Southern Cross Mountains

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Southern Cross Mountains
Antarctica relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Random Hills
Geography
Continent Antarctica
Region Victoria Land, Antarctica
Range coordinates 74°7′S164°25′E / 74.117°S 164.417°E / -74.117; 164.417 (Random Hills)

Southern Cross Mountains is the name applied to the group of ranges lying between the Mariner Glacier and Priestley Glacier in Victoria Land, Antarctica. [1] It is southwest of the Mountaineer Range, southeast of the Mesa Range and northeast of the Deep Freeze Range.

Contents

Exploration and naming

Seaward parts of this area were first viewed by Ross in 1841 and subsequently by expeditions led by Carstens Borchgrevink, Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Richard Evelyn Byrd. The precise mapping of its overall features was accomplished from United States Navy air photographs and surveys by New Zealand and American parties in the 1950s and 1960s. The mountains were named by the northern party of New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE), 1965–66. [1]

Location

The Southern Cross Mountains extend north from Burns Glacier, with the Campbell Glacier to the west and the Aviator Glacier to the east. The two glaciers are fed by the Half-ration Névé to the north of the Arrowhead Range, which is separated from the southern part of the mountains by the Cosmonaut Glacier. Glaciers flowing eastward from the mountains include, from north to south, Cosmonaut Glacier, Cosmonette Glacier, Shoemaker Glacier, Tinker Glacier and Burns Glacier. The Styx Glacier flows northwest. [2]

Features in the northeast of the southern part include the Chisholm Hills, Mount Carson and Linn Mesa. Features in the north and northwest of the southern part include Hades Terrace, Vulcan Hills, Schulte Hills, Stewart Heights, Daughtery Peaks, Eldridge Bluff. Features further south include Daley Hills, Mount Jiracek, and Wood Ridge. [2]

Arrowhead Range

Southern Cross Mountains between C73193s5 Ant.Map Mount Murchison.jpg
Southern Cross Mountains between

73°24′S164°00′E / 73.400°S 164.000°E / -73.400; 164.000 . A mountain range 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) long, situated just north of Cosmonaut Glacier and west of Aviator Glacier. Mapped by United States Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1960-64. The name was applied by United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) and alludes to the shape of the eastern end of the range. [3]

Geographical features of Arrowhead Range include:

Nathan Hills

73°25′S164°24′E / 73.417°S 164.400°E / -73.417; 164.400 . A series of hills in the east part of the Arrowhead Range. Named by the southern party of NZGSAE, 1966-67, for Simon Nathan, senior geologist with this party. [4]

Runaway Hills

73°19′S163°33′E / 73.317°S 163.550°E / -73.317; 163.550 . A cluster of hills forming the northwest extremity of the Arrowhead Range. So named by the southern party of NZGSAE, 1966-67, because both of their motor toboggans went out of control here, when going down hill. [5]

Northeast features

Chisholm Hills

73°26′S163°21′E / 73.433°S 163.350°E / -73.433; 163.350 . A group of steep-sided hills situated 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) east of Gair Mesa in the Southern Cross Mountains, Victoria Land. Named by the southern party of the NZGSAE, 1966-67, for Ross Chisholm, leader of the party. [6]

Mount Carson

73°27′S163°11′E / 73.450°S 163.183°E / -73.450; 163.183 . A mountain 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) west of Chisholm Hills in the Southern Cross Mountains, Victoria Land. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1960-64. Named by US-ACAN for Gene A. Carson, United States Navy, construction electrician at McMurdo Station in 1963 and 1967. [7]

Linn Mesa

73°32′S163°20′E / 73.533°S 163.333°E / -73.533; 163.333 . A small mesa located 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) south of Chisholm Hills in the Southern Cross Mountains of Victoria Land. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1960-64. Named by US-ACAN for Paul E. Linn, United States Navy, utilitiesman at McMurdo Station in 1963 and 1967. [8]

Northern features

Features in the north and northwest of the mountains include:

Hades Terrace

73°41′S163°30′E / 73.683°S 163.500°E / -73.683; 163.500 . A steep, mainly ice-covered bluff along the east side of Campbell Glacier, situated just west of Vulcan Hills. Named by the northern party of NZGSAE, 1965-66, presumably from Greek mythology. [9]

Vulcan Hills

73°40′S163°38′E / 73.667°S 163.633°E / -73.667; 163.633 . A group of small volcanic hills about 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) southwest of Shulte Hills. Named by the southern party of NZGSAE, 1966-67, in recognition of the volcanic composition of the rocks which form these hills. [10]

Schulte Hills

73°35′S163°50′E / 73.583°S 163.833°E / -73.583; 163.833 . A small group of low hills lying 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) south-southwest of Stewart Heights. Named by the southern party of NZGSAE, 1966-67, for Frank Schulte, geologist with this party. [11]

Stewart Heights

73°29′S163°58′E / 73.483°S 163.967°E / -73.483; 163.967 . Small, partly snow-covered heights which rise to 2,760 metres (9,060 ft) high, situated just south of Arrowhead Range and between the upper forks of Cosmonaut Glacier. Named by the southern party of NZGSAE, 1966-67, for lan Stewart, field assistant with this party. [12]

Daughtery Peaks

73°29′S164°20′E / 73.483°S 164.333°E / -73.483; 164.333 . A small cluster of bare rock peaks 2,680 metres (8,790 ft) high that surmount the south wall of Cosmonaut Glacier. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1960-64. Named by US-ACAN for Franklin J. Daughtery, aviation structural mechanic with United States Navy Squadron VX-6, a participant in six Deep Freeze operations. [13]

Eldridge Bluff

73°27′S164°48′E / 73.450°S 164.800°E / -73.450; 164.800 . A prominent rock bluff 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) long, comprising that part of the west wall of Aviator Glacier immediately south of Cosmonaut Glacier. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1960-64. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant Commander David B. Eldridge, Jr., United States Navy, officer in charge of the winter detachment of Squadron VX-6 at McMurdo Station, 1967. [14]

Southern features

Daley Hills

73°42′S164°45′E / 73.700°S 164.750°E / -73.700; 164.750 . A group of high, ice-covered hills along the west side of Aviator Glacier between the mouths of Cosmonette Glacier and Shoemaker Glacier. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1960-64. Named by US-ACAN for Robert C. Daley, United States Navy, flight engineer on Hercules aircraft during United States Navy Operation Deep Freeze, 1966, 1967 and 1968. [15]

Mount Jiracek

73°46′S163°56′E / 73.767°S 163.933°E / -73.767; 163.933 . A mountain 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) high rising at the west side of the head of Tinker Glacier. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1960-64. Named by US-ACAN for George R. Jiracek, geophysicist at McMurdo Station, 1964-65. [16]

Wood Ridge

74°00′S163°45′E / 74.000°S 163.750°E / -74.000; 163.750 . A flat-topped, ice-covered ridge, 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) long, extending in a north–south direction between Campbell Glacier and Styx Glacier. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1955-63. Named by US-ACAN for Vernon P. Wood, United States Navy yeoman, a member of the McMurdo Station winter parties of 1963 and 1967. [17]

Related Research Articles

The Geologists Range is a mountain range about 55 km (34 mi) long, standing between the heads of Lucy and Nimrod Glaciers in Antarctica. Seen by the northern party of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE) (1961–62) and named to commemorate the work of geologists in Antarctic exploration.

The Deep Freeze Range is a rugged mountain range, over 80 nautical miles long and about 10 nautical miles wide, rising between Priestley and Campbell Glaciers in Victoria Land, Antarctica, and extending from the edge of the polar plateau to Terra Nova Bay. It is southwest of the Southern Cross Mountains, south of the Mesa Range and northeast of the Eisenhower Range of the Prince Albert Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priestley Glacier</span> Glacier in Antarctica

The Priestley Glacier is a major valley glacier, about 60 nautical miles long, originating at the edge of the Polar Plateau of Victoria Land, Antarctica. The glacier drains southeast between the Deep Freeze Range and Eisenhower Range to enter the northern end of the Nansen Ice Sheet. It was first explored by the Northern Party of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910–13, and named for Raymond Priestley, a geologist with the Northern Party.

Lillie Glacier is a large glacier in Antarctica, about 100 nautical miles long and 10 nautical miles wide. It lies between the Bowers Mountains on the west and the Concord Mountains and Anare Mountains on the east, flowing to Ob' Bay on the coast and forming the Lillie Glacier Tongue.

Tucker Glacier is a major valley glacier of Victoria Land, Antarctica, about 90 nautical miles long, flowing southeast between the Admiralty Mountains and the Victory Mountains to the Ross Sea. There is a snow saddle at the glacier's head, just west of Homerun Range, from which the Ebbe Glacier flows northwestward.

The Aviator Glacier is a major valley glacier in Antarctica that is over 60 nautical miles long and 5 nautical miles wide, descending generally southward from the plateau of Victoria Land along the west side of Mountaineer Range, and entering Lady Newnes Bay between Cape Sibbald and Hayes Head where it forms a floating tongue.

Wilson Hills is a group of scattered hills, nunataks and ridges that extend northwest–southeast about 70 nautical miles between Matusevich Glacier and Pryor Glacier in Antarctica.

The Mariner Glacier is a major glacier over 60 nautical miles long, descending southeast from the plateau of Victoria Land, Antarctica, between Mountaineer Range and Malta Plateau, and terminating at Lady Newnes Bay, Ross Sea, where it forms the floating Mariner Glacier Tongue.

The Mountaineer Range is the range of mountains lying between the Mariner Glacier and Aviator Glacier in Victoria Land, Antarctica. It lies to the south of the Victory Mountains and northeast of the Southern Cross Mountains.

Explorers Range is a large mountain range in the Bowers Mountains of Victoria Land, Antarctica, extending from Mount Bruce in the north to Carryer Glacier and McLin Glacier in the south.

Alamein Range is a range lying west of Canham Glacier, in the Freyberg Mountains of Antarctica. It was named in association with Lord Bernard Freyberg and the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force by the Northern Party of New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE), 1963–64.

Rennick Glacier is broad glacier, nearly 200 nautical miles long, which is one of the largest in Antarctica. It rises on the polar plateau westward of Mesa Range and is 20 to 30 nautical miles wide, narrowing to 10 nautical miles near the coast. It takes its name from Rennick Bay where the glacier reaches the sea.

The Tinker Glacier is a 25 nautical miles long glacier in Antarctica, draining the central part of the Southern Cross Mountains and flowing southeast into Wood Bay, on the coast of Victoria Land. Named by the Northern Party of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE), 1962–63, for Lieutenant Colonel Ron Tinker, leader at Scott Base during that season.

Campbell Glacier is a glacier, about 60 nautical miles long, originating near the south end of Mesa Range and draining southeast between the Deep Freeze Range and Mount Melbourne to discharge into north Terra Nova Bay in Victoria Land, Antarctica. The lower end of the glacier was observed by the Northern Party, led by Lieutenant Victor Campbell, Royal Navy, of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910–13. It was named for the leader of this party. The extent of the glacier and its discharge into north Terra Nova Bay, rather than the Nansen Ice Sheet, was determined by United States and New Zealand survey parties to the area in 1961–62 and 1962–63.

Nash Ridge is a high, massive ridge of eastern Eisenhower Range, about 10 nautical miles long and 5 nautical miles wide, projecting between the flow of the O'Kane Glacier and Priestley Glacier, in Victoria Land, Antarctica.

The Gallipoli Heights are a group of peaks and ridges centered 7.5 nautical miles south-southeast of Monte Cassino, in the Freyberg Mountains of Victoria Land, Antarctica. They were named in association with Lord Freyberg and the nearby Freyberg Mountains by the Northern Party of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE), 1963–64.

The Mesa Range is a range of flat-topped mesas comprising the Sheehan, Pain, Tobin and Gair Mesas, situated at the head of the Rennick Glacier in Victoria Land, Antarctica. It was given this descriptive name by the northern party of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE) of 1962–63.

Salamander Range is a distinctive linear range between Canham Glacier and Black Glacier, in the Freyberg Mountains, Antarctica. The range was named by the Northern Party of New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE), 1963–64, from the nickname given to Lord Freyberg by Sir Winston Churchill, for the lizard that is untouched by fire.

The Random Hills are a group of rugged hills in Victoria Land, Antarctica. They are bounded on the west by Campbell Glacier and on the east by Tinker Glacier and Wood Bay. They are centered about 15 nautical miles ) north-northwest of Mount Melbourne.

The Crown Hills are a group of peaks and hills forming the south-east part of the Lanterman Range in the Bowers Mountains of Victoria Land, Antarctica. Lying between Zenith Glacier and Gambone Peak, and including All Black Peak, they rise to a height of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). The name was given by the New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee (NZ-APC) in 1983, at the suggestion of geologist M.G. Laird, in association with nearby Coronet Peak.

References

  1. 1 2 Alberts 1995, p. 696.
  2. 1 2 Mount Murchison USGS.
  3. Alberts 1995, p. 29.
  4. Alberts 1995, p. 517.
  5. Alberts 1995, p. 637.
  6. Alberts 1995, p. 134.
  7. Alberts 1995, p. 121.
  8. Alberts 1995, p. 435.
  9. Alberts 1995, p. 303.
  10. Alberts 1995, p. 788.
  11. Alberts 1995, p. 655.
  12. Alberts 1995, p. 713.
  13. Alberts 1995, p. 174.
  14. Alberts 1995, p. 216.
  15. Alberts 1995, p. 169.
  16. Alberts 1995, p. 372.
  17. Alberts 1995, p. 822.

Sources

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey .