Nunataks

A nunatak is an exposed, often rocky, peak or ridge of land that is surrounded by ice. Nunataks are found in glacial environments, such as Greenland and Antarctica, where ice sheets and glaciers cover the underlying topography. These isolated rock formations emerge from the ice like islands in a frozen sea. The term "nunatak" is derived from the Inuit word for an area of land that is not covered by ice.

Nunataks can serve as important ecological refuges for plants and animals during glacial periods. Their exposed surfaces, free from ice, can provide habitats where life can persist and then recolonize the surrounding landscape as the ice recedes. Scientists also study nunataks to understand past glacial conditions, as their rock surfaces may bear evidence of glacial erosion and deposition. The geological composition of nunataks can also offer insights into the bedrock beneath the ice. In glaciated mountainous regions, nunataks can be distinctive landscape features, often visible from a distance as dark protrusions against a white ice background.