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Sunning it up in Antarctica? : 23-06-2008

Scientists are claiming that Antarctica may have once been as hot as South Africa.

Plant fossils from 100 million years ago show the region may have had an average temperature of up to 19 degrees Celsius.

The continent was once much nearer the equator and scientists believe it reached its current position over 100 million years ago.

Nowadays, Antarctica is the coldest place on earth, with a lowest recorded temperature of minus 89 degrees Celsius.

The research was carried out on fossilised leaves found at the South Pole, by Jane Francis at the University of Leeds.

Tests also show that the waters around Antarctica may have been as warm as 15 degrees Celsius.

Scientists have made similar findings at the North Pole after analysing a fossilised turtle.

It is believed that the North Pole may have had warm temperatures as recently as 40 million years ago.