Churchill Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Churchill Mountains is a mountain range
bordering the western side of the Ross Ice Shelf
between Byrd Glacier
and Nimrod Glacier
in Antarctica. Several of its highest summits, including Mounts Egerton, Field, Nares, Wharton and Albert Markham were first seen and named by the Discovery Expedition
(or British National Antarctic Expedition), 1901-04, under Robert Falcon Scott
The mountains were mapped in detail by the USGS
from Tellurometer
surveys, 1960-61, and U.S. Navy air photos, 1960. Named by the US-ACAN
for Sir Winston Churchill
.
, standing midway between Mount Nares and Pyramid Mountain. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition and named for Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham
, a member of the Ship Committee for the expedition.
's advisors for this expedition.
(US-ACAN) for Lieutenant Col. Foy B. Frost, USAF, commanding officer of the Ninth Troop Carrier Squadron, which furnished C-124 Globemaster airlift support between New Zealand and the Antarctic and from McMurdo Sound inland to Byrd, Eights, and South Pole Stations during U.S. Navy (USN) Operation Deep Freeze 1962.
, 11 km (7 mi) south of Mount Tuatara. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition and named for Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton
, who served on Arctic voyages (1850–54) and was a member of the Ship Committee for this expedition.
. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition led by Scott
, who named it for Sir George S. Nares, captain of an Arctic expedition in 1875-76, and a member of the Ship Committee for Scott's expedition.
is a reptile endemic to New Zealand.
aircraft in Antarctica in January 1960.
, Hydrographer to the Royal Navy
, 1884-1904.
s along a ridge running west-east, starting 5 km east of Mount Coley
. The feature is 5 km long with summits rising above 1200 m. Flanked by Lee Glacier
at north and Jorda Glacier
at south. Named in honor of Pamela Young who was the first female event member in the New Zealand Antarctic Research Program (NZARP).
. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
(US-ACAN) for Lieutenant Colonel Michael Zinkovich, United States Air Force
(USAF), commanding officer of the 1710th Aerial Port Squadron
, which furnished airlift support between New Zealand
and Antarctica, and from McMurdo Sound
inland to Byrd
, Eights, and South Pole Stations during U.S. Navy Operation Deep Freeze
1962.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
bordering the western side of the Ross Ice Shelf
Ross Ice Shelf
The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf of Antarctica . It is several hundred metres thick. The nearly vertical ice front to the open sea is more than 600 km long, and between 15 and 50 metres high above the water surface...
between Byrd Glacier
Byrd Glacier
The Byrd Glacier is a major glacier in Antarctica, about 136 km long and 24 km wide, draining an extensive area of the polar plateau and flowing eastward between the Britannia Range and Churchill Mountains to discharge into the Ross Ice Shelf at Barne Inlet.Named by the NZ-APC after Rear...
and Nimrod Glacier
Nimrod Glacier
The Nimrod Glacier is a major glacier about 135 km long, flowing from the polar plateau in a northerly direction through the Transantarctic Mountains between the Geologists and Miller Ranges, then northeasterly between the Churchill Mountains and Queen Elizabeth Range, and finally spilling...
in Antarctica. Several of its highest summits, including Mounts Egerton, Field, Nares, Wharton and Albert Markham were first seen and named by the Discovery Expedition
Discovery Expedition
The British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04, generally known as the Discovery Expedition, was the first official British exploration of the Antarctic regions since James Clark Ross's voyage sixty years earlier...
(or British National Antarctic Expedition), 1901-04, under Robert Falcon Scott
Robert Falcon Scott
Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...
The mountains were mapped in detail by the USGS
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
from Tellurometer
Tellurometer
The Tellurometer was the first successful microwave electronic distance measurement equipment.-History:The original Tellurometer, known as the Micro-Distancer M/RA 1, was introduced in 1959. It was invented by Dr...
surveys, 1960-61, and U.S. Navy air photos, 1960. Named by the US-ACAN
Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names is an advisory committee of the United States Board on Geographic Names responsible for recommending names for features in Antarctica...
for Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
List of mountains
| Mountain | Metres | Feet |
|---|
Mount Albert Markham
Mount Albert Markham is a striking flat-topped mountainMountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
, standing midway between Mount Nares and Pyramid Mountain. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition and named for Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham
Albert Hastings Markham
Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, KCB was a British explorer, author, and officer in the Royal Navy. In 1903 he was made Knight Commander in the Order of the Bath...
, a member of the Ship Committee for the expedition.
Mount Egerton
Mount Egerton is a mountain rising five km north-northwest of Mount Field. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition and named for Admiral Sir George Le Clerc Egerton, a member of the Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876, one of ScottRobert Falcon Scott
Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...
's advisors for this expedition.
Mount Field
Mount Field is a mountain standing 5 km SSE of Mount Egerton. Discovered and named by the Discovery Expedition.Mount Frost
Mount Frost is a mountain standing 4 mi S of Mount Zinkovich, at the southern side of the head of Silk Glacier. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic NamesAdvisory Committee on Antarctic Names
The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names is an advisory committee of the United States Board on Geographic Names responsible for recommending names for features in Antarctica...
(US-ACAN) for Lieutenant Col. Foy B. Frost, USAF, commanding officer of the Ninth Troop Carrier Squadron, which furnished C-124 Globemaster airlift support between New Zealand and the Antarctic and from McMurdo Sound inland to Byrd, Eights, and South Pole Stations during U.S. Navy (USN) Operation Deep Freeze 1962.
Mount Hamilton
Mount Hamilton stands at the eastern edge of Kent PlateauKent Plateau
Kent Plateau is an ice-covered plateau, 12 nautical miles long and 4 nautical miles wide, extending northward from Mount Egerton and Kiwi Pass to the vicinity of Mount Hamilton, in the Churchill Mountains. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Commander Donald F. Kent, U.S. Navy,...
, 11 km (7 mi) south of Mount Tuatara. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition and named for Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton
Richard Vesey Hamilton
Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton GCB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord. His father was rector of Little Chart in Kent.-Naval career:...
, who served on Arctic voyages (1850–54) and was a member of the Ship Committee for this expedition.
Mount Nares
Mount Nares is a massive mountain located just south of Mount Albert Markham and overlooking the head of Flynn GlacierFlynn Glacier
Flynn Glacier is a glacier about 10 nautical miles long, draining eastward from Mount Nares in the Churchill Mountains and entering Starshot Glacier south of Kelly Plateau. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Commander William F. Flynn , U.S...
. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition led by Scott
Robert Falcon Scott
Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...
, who named it for Sir George S. Nares, captain of an Arctic expedition in 1875-76, and a member of the Ship Committee for Scott's expedition.
Pyramid Mountain
Pyramid Mountain is a conspicuous pyramidal mountain standing 4 mi N of Mount Albert Markham. Discovered and named by the Discovery Expedition.Mount Tuatara
Mount Tuatara is a mountain standing on the southern side of Byrd Glacier, 7 mi N of Mount Hamilton. Mapped by the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE) (1960-61) who so named it because the long spiny summit ridge resembles a lizard. The TuataraTuatara
The tuatara is a reptile endemic to New Zealand which, though it resembles most lizards, is actually part of a distinct lineage, order Sphenodontia. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order, which flourished around 200 million years ago. Their most recent common...
is a reptile endemic to New Zealand.
Turk Peak
Turk Peak is a large hump-shaped peak being the central of three peaks on a ridge 6 mi N of Mount Zinkovich. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Lieutenant Col. Wilbert Turk, commander of the 61st Troop Carrier Squadron which initiated the flights of C-130 HerculesC-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
aircraft in Antarctica in January 1960.
Mount Wharton
Mount Wharton is a mountain standing 8.8 km (5.5 mi) west of Turk Peak. Discovered by the Discovery Expedition and named for Sir William WhartonWilliam Wharton (hydrographer)
Admiral Sir William James Lloyd Wharton KCB FRS was a British admiral and Hydrographer of the Navy.-Early life:He was born in London, the second son of Robert Wharton, County Court Judge of York. He was educated at Barney's Academy, Gosport and the Royal Naval Academy.-Royal Navy service:He joined...
, Hydrographer to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, 1884-1904.
Young Peaks
Young Peaks is a group of peakSummit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
s along a ridge running west-east, starting 5 km east of Mount Coley
Mount Coley
Mount Coley is a mountain, high, standing south of Mount Frost, in the Churchill Mountains. It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Commander Vernon J. Coley, commanding officer of U.S. Navy Squadron VX-6 in Antarctica, 1957–58....
. The feature is 5 km long with summits rising above 1200 m. Flanked by Lee Glacier
Lee Glacier
Lee Glacier is a glacier flowing southeast into Jorda Glacier, Churchill Mountains. Mount Frost and Mount Coley are located at its head. Named in honor of Sandra Lee, a former New Zealand Minister of Conservation, for her contribution to environmental protection in Antarctica and its surrounding...
at north and Jorda Glacier
Jorda Glacier
Jorda Glacier is a glacier, about 15 nautical miles long, draining the east slopes of the Churchill Mountains between Mount Coley and Pyramid Mountain and merging with the lower Nursery Glacier just before the latter enters the Ross Ice Shelf. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for...
at south. Named in honor of Pamela Young who was the first female event member in the New Zealand Antarctic Research Program (NZARP).
Mount Zinkovich
Mount Zinkovich is a pointed mountain standing 4 miles (6 km) north of Mount Frost at the north side of the head of Silk GlacierSilk Glacier
Silk Glacier is a glacier, 10 miles long, draining the east slopes of the Churchill Mountains between Mount Frost and Mount Zinkovich to enter Nursery Glacier. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Cdt. P.R.H. Silk, RNZN, commanding officer of HMNZS Endeavour II in Antarctic waters,...
. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names is an advisory committee of the United States Board on Geographic Names responsible for recommending names for features in Antarctica...
(US-ACAN) for Lieutenant Colonel Michael Zinkovich, United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF), commanding officer of the 1710th Aerial Port Squadron
Aerial port squadron
-Overview:Aerial Port Squadron is an Air Force organization which operates and provides the military logistical functions assigned to aerial ports, including processing personnel and cargo, rigging for airdrop, packing parachutes, loading equipment, preparing air cargo and load plans, loading and...
, which furnished airlift support between New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Antarctica, and from McMurdo Sound
McMurdo Sound
The ice-clogged waters of Antarctica's McMurdo Sound extend about 55 km long and wide. The sound opens into the Ross Sea to the north. The Royal Society Range rises from sea level to 13,205 feet on the western shoreline. The nearby McMurdo Ice Shelf scribes McMurdo Sound's southern boundary...
inland to Byrd
Byrd Station
Byrd Station refers to a research station established by the United States during the International Geophysical Year by the U.S. Navy during Operation Deep Freeze II in West Antarctica at 80°, 120°W...
, Eights, and South Pole Stations during U.S. Navy Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze is the codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on...
1962.