McMurdo Dry Valleys

The McMurdo Dry Valleys are located on the western coast of McMurdo Sound and form the largest relatively ice-free area on the Antarctic continent. Characterized by extreme cold and little precipitation, the Dry Valleys is a region where life approaches its environmental limits and the ideal location for Long Term Ecological Research (LTER), an interdisciplinary study of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. To successfully accomplish this research, scientists must be present in the field. Samples and measurements cannot be obtained remotely and experiments must be conducted in situ if they are to have any relevance to the environment.