Snow Hill Island Formation

Snow Hill Island Formation
Snow Hill Island Formation as it appears in the fifth segment of Islands
Location
Supercontinent	Gondwanaland
Continent	Antarctica
Unit of	Marambio Group
Region	James Ross Island, James Ross Archipelago
Underlies	López de Bertodano Formation
Temporal Range	71 - 70 million years ago, Maastrichtian Stage, Late Cretaceous Period
Episodes	Ice Worlds (Segment 5) Islands (Segment 5)
Filmed In	Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada (Islands, Segment 5) Callaghan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (Islands, Segment 5) Alvie and Dalraddy Estates, Scotland (Islands, Segment 5)
Characteristics
Climate	Polar, Temperate
Environment	Fluvial, Forest, Lacustrine

“ In the far south of the planet, on the islands of the Antarctic peninsula, winter brings months of freezing temperatures. Here, too, being part of a family brings benefits. ”

― David Attenborough, Islands

The Snow Hill Island Formation is a geological formation found on the James Ross Island of Antarctica, preceding the López de Bertodano Formation.

Paleoenvironment

“ In the Antarctic, ice clings to the highest mountains even in the summer months. But now, with temperatures falling, and the days shortening, the polar winter is spreading once more across the land. Animals must now prepare for its return. ”

― David Attenborough, Ice Worlds

Around 71 million years ago, during the Early Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, Earth's climate was much warmer and more humid than today. Due to this, Antarctica had a climate similar to those of modern-day volcanic arcs, supporting large, dense conifer forests, cycads, and ginkgos. Even back then, however, much like Antarctica today, the inhabitants of the island had to endure a long period of cold, dark months during the winter, and hence had to adapt to the freezing temperatures as snow and ice cover up the temperate forests of the region.

Appearances

The Snow Hill Island Formation serves as the setting of the fifth segment of Ice Worlds and the fifth segment of Islands.

Paleofauna

Antarctic Hadrosaur

Antarctopelta oliveroi

Imperobator antarcticus

Morrosaurus antarcticus