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The Mountains Of Antarctica

Published: 2.2.2010
The continent of Antrarctica presents, with its extention of 14 000 000 square kilometres, the fifth greatest continent of our planet. However, 98% of total Antarctide surface is covered by glaciers, which are 1,6 kms thick in diameter at least. Along all its circumference, the continent is washed out by South (Antarctic) Ocean.

AntarcticaTo tell the truth, we speak about the coldest, dryiest and most windy continent, as far as measured average (diameter) units are concerned. The average altitude of the Antarctide makes 1958 metres above sea level, including coastal glaciers (2194 m without glaciers), so, it is placed on the first place among continents. The mountain areas, where the ice is missing, make only 5% of total surface. In general, we have very little information data about Antarctide Mountain Ranges. The reason for this fact is simple: all investigators (polar scientists) meet during their excursions here extreme nature conditions, such as: extreme rough climate, dangerous glacier and rock relief, risky arrival to the coast, scarse nest of polar stations and quite difficult foodstuff supply. So, those most rough conditions dominate in nountain areas. The Antarctica is generally divided into East and West part - the boundary is put into under-glacier depression, situated along communication line of Ross and Weddel Sea. Most of mountains are placed in corner parts of continental glacier and have a form of isolated crests, ridges and Antarcticanunatacs (this is an expression for rocky mountain, rising from continental glacier), where the glaciers fuse from central glacier plateau.

As far as the climatic side is concerned, the Antarctide is signed - in its central areas - as extreme cold and extremely dry ice desert, partially also with stony and rocky area. The weather is frosty and dry, with numerous windy storms. Maximal speed, obtained in Adela Country, exceeded 83 m/sec (more than 300 kms/h). As mentioned before, the Antarctide is most windy continent. As far as the temperatures is concerned, so continent centre is characteristic with its average year temperature, relating to - 56° C, whereas the absolut found out minimum makes - 89° C. Regarding precipitation, the Antarctide has least of all continents - they are moving from less than 50 mm - 650 mm in a year, exceptionally more on coasts, and 99% in its rigid consistence.

AntarcticaLocal life, in form of fauna nad flora, is some rare phenomenon in Antarctide. Only on surfaces, where the ice is missing, or in oasis, and mainly on Antarctide Peninsula, you can find some overgrowns of lichens or mosses, scarsely even several sorts of grasses. The animals kingdom does not practically exist in Antarctide inland. Overland animals are concentarted to several sorts of insects only, nevertheless, bound to mosses overgrowns, mostly on Antarctide Peninsula (flies without wings, mosquitos without wings, some sorts of spiders and  worms). The remaining fauna is bound to the sea. As far as the birds are concerned, these are first of all, very popular penguins (Adela penguins or Empire penguins) or seaweeds

The Mountains of East-Antarctica Shield

AntarcticaThe surface of East Antarctide is monotonous and is descending subsequently from central glacier cupola of heights exceeding 4000 metres to the edges, where, in the altitudes of 2000-2500 metres, begins the slope of continental glacier. In south-west part of Wilkes Country, the greatest thickness of Antarctic glacier, i.e. 4474 metres.is to be noted. To local important mountain range  could be added, as follows: Queen Fabiola Mountain Range (with its highest peak of Fukushima - 2470 m), Belgica (Mt.Victor - 2588 m), Sor Rondane (Vorterkaka - 3630 m), Russian Mountains (2820 m), Prince Charles Maountains (Mt. Menzies-3355 m), Wohltat (3520 m), Muhlig-Hofmann Mountains (3167 m) and Gamburtsew Mountains (3390 m).

Transantarctica Mountain Range

Transantarctic Mountain Range forms a boundary of East Antarctide against West Antarctide. The range is passing in the length of 2800 kms, with its highest peak of Mt.Kirkpatrick, Antarcticaexceeding 4528 m. Some parts of this mountains are hidden below the ice, but despite this fact, the rocky base is jutting out on numerous places with its peaks or complete mountain mountain crests. This mountain range starts at south edge of Filchner Shield Glacier, with nunatak Pensacola Crest, and passes towards west coast of Ross Sea, where finishes in south-west direction of Adare Cap. To most known mountain ranges of this area belong, as follows: Admirality Mountain Range (Mt.Minto - 4165 m), Eisenhower Mountain Range, Convoy, Asgard (Mt. Shapeless-2739 m), Royal Society (Mt.Lister - 4025 m), Queen Elizabeth Mountain Range (Mt.Miller - 4160 m), Queen Alexandra Mountain Range (Mt. Elizabeth – 4480 m), Thiele Mountain Range and Whitmore Mountain Range (Mt.Seelig - 3022 m).

Ellsworth Mountain Range

This mountain range is 350 kms long, discovered by Lincoln Ellsworth in 1935, is placed among Ed.Ronne Glacier Shield and continental glacier of  West Antarctide. Inside this Sentinel Mountain Range, there is to be found the highest peak of the whole continent - Mt.Vinson (5140 m). Sentinel offers another Antarcticahigh mountains, such as Mt.Tyree (4965 m), Mt.Shinn (4801 m) or Mt.Gardner (4686 m).

Volcanos of Mary Byrd Country and Ross Island

This area presents flat glacier surface, exceeding the altitudes of 1000-2100 metres above sea level. Nevertheless, inside several nunatak volcanic mountains, first of all in west, there is arising much more. In Executive Committee Mountains, there is arising, up to the height of 4181 m, extincted Mt. Sidley Volcano. To the other mountains could be added Ford Mountain Range and Flood Range nunatak group. In west direction from Mary Byrd Country, there is spreading Ross Shield Glacier, the greatest one of such type, with total surface of 547 350 square kilometres. Here, there is to be found  popular (and active) Mt.Erebus Volcano (3794 m), where inside its crater, small lava lake is to be kept.

Antarctica

 

Text: J. Štantejský

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Rex, Andrew Mandemaker, Vincent van Zeijst, č.2, č.3, č.4, č.5, Ben Holt

 

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