Antarctica was covered in forests and prone to fires during the Mesozoic era

Research has revealed that during the Mesozoic era, Antarctica was covered in forests rather than ice and was located significantly further north than its current position. Evidence found in Cretaceous deposits indicates that the continent experienced intense forest fires, likely triggered by lightning strikes during storms.

The peat-like structure of these ancient forests made swampy areas and peatlands highly susceptible to rapid combustion. During the Cretaceous period, which lasted from approximately 145 million to 66 million years ago, Antarctica was part of the supercontinent Gondwana, alongside Africa, Australia, and South America. Over the course of the Cretaceous, the continent gradually shifted toward the South Pole, undergoing significant climatic and biological changes.