Erebus stands over 3,700 meters high and has been continuously active since at least 1972. It is famous for its “lava lake,” which consists of rare molten phonolite rock. Because the volcano is located near major research stations like McMurdo (USA) and Scott Base (New Zealand), it is one of the most thoroughly studied volcanoes in the polar regions. Despite the freezing temperatures of Antarctica, the heat from Erebus creates unique “ice towers” around its steam vents, where warm volcanic gas freezes into giant hollow chimneys as it hits the sub-zero air.