Antarctica as we know it was formed roughly 34 million years ago, when the continent was enveloped by the massive ice sheet it is known for today.

How was Antarctica made?

From the end of the Neoproterozoic to the Cretaceous, Antarctica formed part of the supercontinent Gondwana. Over time, Gondwana gradually broke apart, and Antarctica as we know it today was formed when Antarctica separated from South America (forming the Drake Passage) and Australia during the late Paleogene.

How did ice form in Antarctica?

The glaciers carved out valleys that had already been worn in by river flow, changing the topography. Once the expansive ice sheets that now cover the continent began to form, they preserved these landforms in frigid perpetuity. ... "The topography has a major influence on the ice flow of Antarctica."