Mount Melbourne

Mount Melbourne
Mount Melbourne seen from the ice-covered Ross Sea
Highest point
Elevation 2,730 m (8,960 ft) [1]
Prominence 1,699 m (5,574 ft) [1]
Listing Ultra
Coordinates 74°21′S 164°42′E / 74.350°S 164.700°E / -74.350; 164.700Coordinates: 74°21′S 164°42′E / 74.350°S 164.700°E / -74.350; 164.700 [1]
Geography
Mount Melbourne
Geology
Age of rock Unknown
Mountain type Stratovolcano
Last eruption 1892 ± 30 years

Mount Melbourne is a massive stratovolcano that makes up the projection of the coast between Wood Bay and Terra Nova Bay, in Victoria Land of Antarctica. It was discovered in 1841 by James Clark Ross, who named it for Lord Melbourne, British Prime Minister when the expedition was being planned.[2]

Description

Topographic map of Mount Melbourne (1:250,000 scale) from USGS Mount Melbourne

Mount Melbourne is an active volcano and is undissected by glaciation. Many young cones dot the flanks and the volcano may have erupted as recently as during the 18-19th Century. Fumarolic activity is found on the southern rim of the summit crater and along a NNE-SSW line cutting through the summit region.

Antarctic Specially Protected Area

A 6 km2 area on the summit of the mountain, including a feature known as Cryptogam Ridge, is protected under the Antarctic Treaty System as Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.118 because it contains geothermally heated soils with a diverse and unique biological community. The warmest areas of ground are created by fumaroles and support patches of moss, liverwort and algae as well as a species of protozoan. The site encompasses all land above the 2200 m contour surrounding the main crater.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Antarctica Ultra-Prominences". Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  2. ↑ Ross, James Clark (2011) [1847]. A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions, During the Years 1839-43. 1. Cambridge University Press. p. 205. ISBN 9781108030854 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ "Summit of Mount Melbourne, Victoria Land" (PDF). Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 118: Measure 5, Annex. Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 2008. Retrieved 2013-03-06.

Sources

  • "Melbourne". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
  • LeMasurier, W. E. (1990). Thomson, J. W., ed. Volcanoes of the Antarctic Plate and Southern Oceans. American Geophysical Union. p. 512. ISBN 0-87590-172-7.
  • "Skiing the Pacific Ring of Fire and Beyond". Amar Andalkar's Ski Mountaineering and Climbing Site. 2007 [1997]. Retrieved 2005-01-14.


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