Queen Alexandra Range
Encyclopedia
The Queen Alexandra Range is a major mountain range
in East Antarctica
, about 160 km (100 mi) long, bordering the entire western side of Beardmore Glacier
from the Polar Plateau to the Ross Ice Shelf
. Alternate names for this range include Alexandra Mountains, Alexandra Range and Königin Alexandra Gebirge.
The highest peak of the range is Mount Kirkpatrick
at 4528 metres (14,856 ft). Other peaks in the range include Mount Dickerson
(4,120 m).
This mountain range was discovered on the journey toward the South Pole
by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-09)
, and was named by Ernest Shackleton
for Queen Alexandra
of England. Shackleton and his men, and a later expedition headed by Robert Falcon Scott
, both collected rock samples from the range that contained fossil
s. The discovery that multicellular life forms had lived so close to the South Pole was an additional piece of evidence that accompanied the publication (in 1910 and independently in 1912) of the theory of continental drift
.
, standing 4.5 miles (7 km) southwest of Mount Fox. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
(US-ACAN) for Vernon Ahmadjian
, United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) biologist at McMurdo Station
, 1963-64.
(USAF), an observer with the Argentine Antarctic Expedition (1956–57); member of the Staff of the U.S. Antarctic Projects Officer, 1958 and 1959; member of the American party which on May 22, 1962, succeeded in climbing Mount Everest
.
situated 4.8 km (3 mi) southwest of Mount Kirkpatrick
. Mapped by United States Geological Survey
(USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1958-65. Named by US-ACAN in recognition of the Decennial of the Institute of Polar Studies, Ohio State University
, in 1970, the same year the University celebrated its Centennial. The university and the Institute have been very active in Antarctic investigations since 1960.
, just southeast of the head of King Glacier
. Discovered by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-09), and named for Ida Jane Rule of Christchurch, New Zealand
, who later married Edward Saunders, Secretary to Shackleton, who assisted in preparing the narrative of the expedition.
near the western limits of Grindley Plateau
. Named by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907–09) for the eldest brother of Dr. E.S. Marshall, a member of the expedition. This identification is the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition
(NZGSAE) (1961–62) interpretation of the original positioning by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907–09).
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...
in East Antarctica
East Antarctica
East Antarctica, also called Greater Antarctica, constitutes the majority of the Antarctic continent, lying on the Indian Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains...
, about 160 km (100 mi) long, bordering the entire western side of Beardmore Glacier
Beardmore Glacier
The Beardmore Glacier in Antarctica is one of the largest glaciers in the world, with a length exceeding 160 km . The glacier is one of the main passages from the Ross Ice Shelf through the Queen Alexandra and Commonwealth ranges of the Transantarctic Mountains to the Antarctic Plateau, and was one...
from the Polar Plateau to 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...
. Alternate names for this range include Alexandra Mountains, Alexandra Range and Königin Alexandra Gebirge.
The highest peak of the range is Mount Kirkpatrick
Mount Kirkpatrick
Mount Kirkpatrick is a lofty, generally ice-free mountain in Antarctica's Queen Alexandra Range. Located 8 km west of Mount Dickerson, Mt. Kirkpatrick is the highest point in the Queen Alexandra Range, as well as in its parent range, the Transantarctic Mountains...
at 4528 metres (14,856 ft). Other peaks in the range include Mount Dickerson
Mount Dickerson
Mount Dickerson is a prominent mountain, standing 6 km east of Mount Kirkpatrick in the Queen Alexandra Range in East Antarctica. The mountain was named by US-ACAN for LCDR Richard G. Dickerson, US Navy, VX-6 aircraft commander during US naval operations in 1964....
(4,120 m).
This mountain range was discovered on the journey toward the South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-09)
Nimrod Expedition
The British Antarctic Expedition 1907–09, otherwise known as the Nimrod Expedition, was the first of three expeditions to the Antarctic led by Ernest Shackleton. Its main target, among a range of geographical and scientific objectives, was to be first to the South Pole...
, and was named by Ernest Shackleton
Ernest Shackleton
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE was a notable explorer from County Kildare, Ireland, who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration...
for Queen Alexandra
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
of England. Shackleton and his men, and a later expedition headed by 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...
, both collected rock samples from the range that contained fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s. The discovery that multicellular life forms had lived so close to the South Pole was an additional piece of evidence that accompanied the publication (in 1910 and independently in 1912) of the theory of continental drift
Continental drift
Continental drift is the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other. The hypothesis that continents 'drift' was first put forward by Abraham Ortelius in 1596 and was fully developed by Alfred Wegener in 1912...
.
Mountains and peaks
| Mountain | Metres | Feet |
|---|
Ahmadjian Peak
Ahmadjian Peak is a prominent ice-covered 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...
, standing 4.5 miles (7 km) southwest of Mount Fox. 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 Vernon Ahmadjian
Vernon Ahmadjian
Dr. Vernon Ahmadjian is a professor emeritus at Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. He is a specialist on lichen symbiosis and has written several books and numerous publications on this subject....
, United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) biologist at McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National...
, 1963-64.
Mount Bishop
Mount Bishop stands 3.2 km (2 mi) south of Ahmadjian Peak. Named by US-ACAN after Lieutenant Barry Chapman Bishop (1932–94), United States Air ForceUnited 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), an observer with the Argentine Antarctic Expedition (1956–57); member of the Staff of the U.S. Antarctic Projects Officer, 1958 and 1959; member of the American party which on May 22, 1962, succeeded in climbing Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
.
Decennial Peak
Decennial Peak is a peakPyramidal peak
A pyramidal peak, or sometimes in its most extreme form called a glacial horn, is a mountaintop that has been modified by the action of ice during glaciation and frost weathering...
situated 4.8 km (3 mi) southwest of Mount Kirkpatrick
Mount Kirkpatrick
Mount Kirkpatrick is a lofty, generally ice-free mountain in Antarctica's Queen Alexandra Range. Located 8 km west of Mount Dickerson, Mt. Kirkpatrick is the highest point in the Queen Alexandra Range, as well as in its parent range, the Transantarctic Mountains...
. 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, 1958-65. Named by US-ACAN in recognition of the Decennial of the Institute of Polar Studies, Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, in 1970, the same year the University celebrated its Centennial. The university and the Institute have been very active in Antarctic investigations since 1960.
Mount Fox
Mount Fox is a mountain standing 1 mi SW of Mount F.L. Smith. Discovered and named by the British Antarctic Expedition.Mount Ida
Mount Ida is a conspicuous bare rock mountain, standing 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Granite PillarsGranite Pillars
Granite Pillars are conspicuous ice-free rock pillars at the west side of lower Beardmore Glacier, 2 nautical miles east of Mount Ida in the Queen Alexandra Range. Discovered by British Antarctic Expedition , and first named the "Cathedral Rocks," but changed later to avoid confusion with a...
, just southeast of the head of King Glacier
King Glacier
King Glacier is a glacier close northwest of Mount Ida, flowing north from Queen Alexandra Range into the Ross Ice Shelf. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Hugh A. King, MC, U.S. Navy, officer in charge at Hallett Station, 1964....
. Discovered by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-09), and named for Ida Jane Rule of Christchurch, 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...
, who later married Edward Saunders, Secretary to Shackleton, who assisted in preparing the narrative of the expedition.
Mount Stanley
Mount Stanley stands northeast of the head of Wyckoff GlacierWyckoff Glacier
Wyckoff Glacier is a glacier, 6 nautical miles long, flowing west from Grindley Plateau in Queen Alexandra Range, just north of Lamping Peak. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Kent A. Wyckoff, United States Antarctic Research Program meteorologist at Hallett Station, 1963....
near the western limits of Grindley Plateau
Grindley Plateau
Grindley Plateau is a high icecapped plateau in the central Queen Alexandra Range, bordered by the peaks of Mount Mackellar, Mount Bell and Mount Kirkpatrick. Named by the Northern Party of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition for George Grindley, senior geologist of the party....
. Named by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907–09) for the eldest brother of Dr. E.S. Marshall, a member of the expedition. This identification is the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition
New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition
The New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition describes a series of scientific explorations of the continent Antarctica. The expeditions were notably active in 1957-58 and again in 1958-59. The 1957-58 expedition went to the Ross Dependency and named the Borchgrevink Glacier...
(NZGSAE) (1961–62) interpretation of the original positioning by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907–09).