@organic.chaoss/TikTok, Bob Brewer/UnsplashTikToker Katie Baehring talks about the lore that now surrounds a controversial Antarctic expedition led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd called Operation Highjump.Visiting Antarctica isnt high on most peoples bucket lists. Its undoubtedly an interesting place, filled with unique wildlife and natural wonders. However, given how long it takes to get there and how expensive that journey can be, many find that theyd rather spend their limited vacation days somewhere else.As a result, its rare to meet people who have actually been to Antarctica. This, paired with its massive size, gives Antarctica an air of mystery. Whats going on down there? Is there something happening at our southern pole of which average people are not aware?These lingering thoughts have led to a host of conspiracy theories popping up about Antarctica. One involves the United States Navy and a controversial expedition led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd.What Was Operation Highjump?To examine the lore that now surrounds Admiral Byrd and Operation Highjump, one can look to social media networks like TikTok.In one telling of events, TikTok user Katie Baehring says that a small crew, led by Admiral Byrd, visited Antarctica in the 1940s as part of a mission called Operation Highjump. While it was an exploratory mission, Baehring says that Byrd was limited by the Navy in terms of what he could do.The Voice of Stolen History/YouTubeAdmiral Richard E. Byrd discusses his time in Antarctica.One day, he goes further than what he was supposed to go They lose track of him for three hours, Baehring says. He comes back, and hes, like, pale as a ghost and is, like, trying to explain all of the things that he saw.According to Baehring, these sights included a lush, green land behind the wall where an entire civilization was hiding.He comes back, and he starts going on interviews and telling the things that he saw luscious land, rainbow cities, civilizations unlike anything hes ever seen, she shares. He comes back, allegedly, and testifies in front of Congress and says, like, There are some things beyond this wall that are, like, scary. Like, a little scary, maybe a lot scary.'Byrd passed away 10 years later. Three years after that, numerous countries signed the Antarctic Treaty.We cant come together about some other things, but we can come to the agreement for Antarctica, Baehring sarcastically states.She goes on to speculate that Antarctica is not a continent, but an ice wall either surrounding our known planet or, as she states in her follow-up video, protecting polar entrances to a world concealed within our hollow Earth. Nevertheless, Baehring says that her videos include alleged claims and are for educational and entertainment purposes only, making it unclear how seriously she actually takes the stories she shared.What Really Happened When Admiral Byrd Went To Antarctica?While its a captivating story, what Baehring describes here is indeed fake. But, while the real story lacks hidden lands and secret civilizations, its an equally fascinating tale of exploration and Cold War politics.Wikimedia CommonsA U.S. Navy helicopter participates in Operation Highjump, circa 1940.What is true about Baehrings story is that there was an Antarctic expedition called Operation Highjump led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd. This, however, was not a secret expedition with harsh restrictions. According to the U.S. Naval Institute, this mission had 4,700 people who were tasked with surveying the continent, determining how well various vehicles fared there, and scouting sites for a potential base.With the Cold War in full swing, the United States both wanted to lay claim to new land and likely prepare itself for a possible war with the Soviet Union.In the U.S.s eyes, exploring and claiming Antarctica meant that they could use the continent for several military purposes. They could train personnel and test materials in extreme temperatures and conditions. They could figure out how to maintain air bases on ice, which they thought could later be applied to territories in the northern Arctic. And perhaps they could even establish bases on Antarctica.The mission was largely successful. Naval personnel sailed down, set up a base, launched aircraft, photographed and mapped huge areas of the continent, and learned just how difficult operating in these frigid conditions can be. While some objectives were classified, this expedition as a whole was not secret. In fact, a documentary called The Secret Land was produced about the journey, and its available online.Theres no evidence that the alleged incidents described by Baehring in which Admiral Byrd disappeared, reappeared claiming he saw a secret land, then spoke to interviewers and Congress about it ever took place. This tale appears to be a modern spin on a classic conspiracy, which itself is rooted in two works considered to be occult fiction: Raymond Bernards The Hollow Earth and The Missing Diary Of Admiral Richard E. Byrd.What About The Antarctic Treaty?So, if the United States was excited by the prospect of exploring and owning Antarctica, why did it agree to the Antarctic Treaty a short time later?Conspiracists often point to the Antarctic Treaty as though its a smoking gun that something fishy was going on down there. Why would countries with so few shared interests agree on this one thing?The answer is a bit complicated. In the lead-up to the Antarctic Treaty, territorial claims on Antarctica were complicated and often overlapping. This wasnt just a dispute between countries that were on opposing sides of the Cold War, either; several allied countries were engaged in territorial disagreements that would have had few possible solutions aside from war.The Antarctic Treaty was designed to simply freeze things as they were, disputed regions and all. No country with current claims was forced to accept the claims of other countries, while no new claims were allowed on the land.The area was also declared to be peaceful and for research purposes only. This meant that the countries participating in the treaty would not feel the need to waste resources defending outposts in the middle of the Antarctic.In summary, the cost of militarizing the area was high, and the immediate practical value of the land was limited. Thus, the benefits of cooperation in this single area, despite political disagreements in other parts of the globe, were obvious.Why Cant You Explore Antarctica?This is one of the more confusing points that conspiracy theorists like to emphasize. According to some theorists, people are forbidden from traveling to or exploring Antarctica.Robert Haverly/UnsplashAntarctica is not off-limits for traveling, as some conspiracy theorists mistakenly think.This is simply not true. If you have the money, you can book a trip to Antarctica right now. Multiple cruise companies run trips to Antarctica, and a cursory search on YouTube allows you to see just what people are finding on our southernmost continent. You can even visit the South Pole if you really want to.Not only that, but the United States Antarctic Program consistently posts job listings for work there. Youre not going to find a hidden world, but if youre interested in exploring everything that Antarctica has to offer, the U.S. government does not forbid it in fact, theyll pay you to do it. @organic.chaoss Yall!!!! My flabbers are GASTED!! So lets talk about Antarctica. Admiral Byrd. What he saw I was watching old interviews And what may (allegedly) exist beyond what weve been told. Because the deeper you go the weirder it gets. I may need to go touch grass I tried to keep this in one video, I really did but there was NO way to fit it all without rushing it. And trust me you do not want this rushed. Part 2 is where things get very interesting (Think: whats beneath and who knew about it) Follow along if youre into: conspiracies, hidden history, and connecting dots no one else is talking about And tell me whats your take on Antarctica?!! My brain hurts. Follow my back up just in case heybabetribe #organicchaoss #conspiracy #rabbitholes #conspiracytheory #antarctica original sound organic.chaoss All Thats Interesting reached out to Baehring via Instagram direct message and email.After this look at Operation Highjump, learn about Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. Then, meet Roald Amundsen, the first person to ever visit the South Pole.The post Some People Think Antarctica Is Being Hidden From The World. Did Admiral Byrd Discover Something There During Operation Highjump? appeared first on All That's Interesting.