# Ancient rainforest grew near South Pole 90 million years ago 2026-08-15T07:06:03+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A seabed sediment core from West Antarctica contains fossilised roots, pollen and spores from a temperate rainforest that grew about 90 million years ago, roughly 900 km from the South Pole. The discovery, from a 2017 Polarstern expedition in the Amundsen Sea, places the forest at about 82 degrees south during the Cretaceous Period. The roots show that the plants grew in the soil where they were found, while chemical evidence points to a wet ecosystem. Scientists estimate average annual temperatures of about 12°C, with summer temperatures near 19°C, despite months of polar darkness. Climate modelling suggests atmospheric carbon dioxide may have ranged between 1,120 and 1,680 parts per million. Amber fragments later found in the same core support evidence of resin-producing trees. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Amundsen Sea, Antarctica, nature, Polarstern Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ancient-rainforest-grew-near-south-pole-90-million-years-ago/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ancient-rainforest-grew-near-south-pole-90-million-years-ago/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.