Gowan Glacier is a glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

 about 15 nautical miles (28 km) long in the Heritage Range

Heritage Range

The Heritage Range is a major mountain range, long and wide, situated southward of Minnesota Glacier and forming the southern half of the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica...

 of the Ellsworth Mountains

Ellsworth Mountains

The Ellsworth Mountains are the highest mountain ranges in Antarctica, forming a long and wide chain of mountains in a north to south configuration on the western margin of the Ronne Ice Shelf. They are bisected by Minnesota Glacier to form the northern Sentinel Range and the southern Heritage...

, flowing north from the vicinity of Cunningham Peak

Cunningham Peak

Cunningham Peak is a mainly ice-covered peak, 2,170 m, at the head of Gowan Glacier along the Founders Escarpment, in the Heritage Range. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1961-66. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Ship's...

 in the Founders Escarpment

Founders Escarpment

Founders Escarpment is a prominent escarpment located west of Founders Peaks in the Heritage Range, extending from Minnesota Glacier to Splettstoesser Glacier. Named after the nearby Founders Peaks by the University of Minnesota Geological Party, 1963-64....

 to enter Minnesota Glacier

Minnesota Glacier

Minnesota Glacier is a broad glacier in Antarctica. It is about 64 km long and 8 km wide, and flows east through the Ellsworth Mountains, separating the Sentinel and Heritage ranges. It is nourished by ice from the plateau west of the mountains and by the Nimitz and Splettstoesser...

 just east of Welcome Nunatak

Welcome Nunatak

Welcome Nunatak is a relatively small but truly distinctive cone-shaped nunatak standing in near isolation to the north of Reuther Nunataks in the Founders Peaks, Heritage Range. Named by the University of Minnesota Geological Party, 1963-64...

. Mapped by United States Geological Survey

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,...

 (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1961-66. 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 Jimmy L. Gowan, (MC) U.S. Navy, officer in charge and doctor at Plateau Station in 1966.