Hess Mountains is a group of mountains in the Antarctic

Antarctic

The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...

 rising to about 1,500 m at the head of Hilton Inlet

Hilton Inlet

Hilton Inlet is an ice-filled inlet, 12 nautical miles wide, which recedes about 22 nautical miles west from its entrance between Capes Darlington and Knowles, along the east coast of Palmer Land. Discovered by the United States Antarctic Service in 1940, and named for Donald C...

, Black Coast

Black Coast

Black Coast is the portion of the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula between Cape Boggs and Cape Mackintosh. This coast was discovered and photographed from the air by members of the East Base of the U.S. Antarctic Service, 1939–41, on a flight of December 30, 1940...

, to the west of Dietz Bluff

Dietz Bluff

Dietz Bluff is a prominent bluff at the head of Hilton Inlet on the Black Coast, Palmer Land. The bluff was photographed from the air by United States Antarctic Service , 1940, and by Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition , 1947; mapped by United States Geological Survey from U.S. Navy aerial...

 and bounded to north by Gruening Glacier

Gruening Glacier

Gruening Glacier is a broad glacier descending southeast between steep rock walls to the northwest part of Hilton Inlet, on the east coast of Palmer Land. Discovered by the United States Antarctic Service in a flight down this glacier from East Base on December 30, 1940. Named for Ernest H....

, to west by Runcorn Glacier

Runcorn Glacier

Runcorn Glacier is a glacier to the west of Hess Mountains, flowing southeast to join Beaumont Glacier near the head of Hilton Inlet, Black Coast, Palmer Land. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from aerial photographs taken by the U.S. Navy, 1966-69. Surveyed by British Antarctic Survey ,...

 and to south by Beaumont Glacier

Beaumont Glacier

Beaumont Glacier is a broad glacier flowing in a northeast direction to the southwest part of Hilton Inlet, on the east coast of Palmer Land. The United States Antarctic Service discovered and photographed it from the air in 1940...

. First photographed from the air by the United States Antarctic Service (USAS), 1940. 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 aerial photographs taken by the U.S. Navy, 1966-69. Surveyed by British Antarctic Survey

British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....

 (BAS), 1972-73. In association with the names of continental drift scientists grouped in this area, 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), 1978, after Harry H. Hess (1906-69), American geologist, Professor of Geology, Princeton University

Princeton University

Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....

, 1948-69.