The geographic South Pole is marked by a fixed landmark and the “Amundsen-Scott” scientific station, but the ice cap on which they are located is constantly moving.
The ice in Antarctica is not static: it slides slowly, at a speed of about 10 meters per year, from the center of the continent towards the coast under its own weight. Therefore, the exact position of the pole, defined as the point of intersection of the Earth’s axis of rotation with its surface, moves annually in relation to fixed structures installed on the ice.
Every January, polar researchers install a new decorative marker, pre-calculating its coordinates using GPS, to indicate the current position of the pole for tourists and scientific observations. This practice clearly demonstrates the dynamic nature of the Antarctic ice sheet, which, despite its apparent immobility, is in constant motion.
