Fact Check: There is a gigantic ice wall surrounding the earth

Fact-Check: "There is a gigantic ice wall surrounding the earth"

What We Know

The claim that there is a "gigantic ice wall surrounding the earth" is a central tenet of modern flat Earth theories. Proponents argue that Antarctica is not a continent but rather an ice wall that encircles the Earth, preventing people from falling off the edge. This belief is rooted in the works of 19th-century writer Samuel Rowbotham, who published the book Earth Not a Globe, asserting that the Earth is flat and surrounded by ice (Modern flat Earth beliefs).

However, scientific consensus, supported by over two millennia of evidence, confirms that the Earth is an oblate spheroid, not flat (Fact Check: Earth is not flat or surrounded by an ice wall). Antarctica is a continent covered by ice, with ice shelves that extend into the ocean, not a wall surrounding the Earth (Photo of 'ice wall' is ice shelf, common in Antarctica).

Furthermore, extensive exploration has shown that humans can travel well beyond 500 kilometers into Antarctica, with research stations located more than 1,200 kilometers inland (Photo of 'ice wall' is ice shelf, common in Antarctica).

Analysis

The evidence against the claim of an ice wall is robust and comes from multiple reliable sources. For instance, a fact check by Reuters explicitly states that the Earth is spherical and not surrounded by an ice wall. This assertion is backed by centuries of scientific research and exploration.

The concept of an ice wall is primarily propagated by flat Earth proponents, whose claims are often classified as a form of science denial (Modern flat Earth beliefs). These beliefs lack empirical support and contradict established scientific knowledge regarding the shape and structure of the Earth.

Additionally, the notion that Antarctica is an impenetrable ice wall is debunked by Antarctic researchers. For example, Theodore Scambos, an expert from the University of Colorado Boulder, clarified that the sheer-faced "ice wall" often depicted is actually an ice shelf, which forms when land-based ice flows into the ocean (Photo of 'ice wall' is ice shelf, common in Antarctica). Ice shelves are common along the Antarctic coastline and do not serve as a barrier to exploration.

The credibility of the sources refuting the ice wall claim is high. They include peer-reviewed scientific research and reputable fact-checking organizations, which adhere to strict standards of evidence and verification.

Conclusion

The claim that there is a gigantic ice wall surrounding the Earth is False. The assertion is based on outdated and scientifically unsupported beliefs propagated by flat Earth theorists. Extensive scientific research and exploration have consistently demonstrated that the Earth is a spherical body, with Antarctica being a continent rather than a boundary. The idea of an ice wall is a misconception that does not hold up against empirical evidence.

Fact Check: There is a gigantic ice wall surrounding the earth