Victoria Land | |
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Region | |
 Area map of Victoria Land | |
| Etymology:Queen Victoria | |
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| Coordinates:71°15′S163°00′E / 71.250°S 163.000°E /-71.250; 163.000 | |
| Continent | Antarctica |
| Founded by | James Clark Ross |
Victoria Land is a region in easternAntarctica which fronts the western side of theRoss Sea and theRoss Ice Shelf, extending southward from about 70°30'S to78°00'S, and westward from the Ross Sea to the edge of theAntarctic Plateau.[1] It was discovered by CaptainJames Clark Ross in January 1841 and named afterQueen Victoria.[1] The rockypromontory ofMinna Bluff is often regarded as the southernmost point of Victoria Land, and separates theScott Coast to the north from theHillary Coast of theRoss Dependency to the south.
Early explorers of Victoria Land include James Clark Ross andDouglas Mawson.[2]
In 1979, scientists discovered a group of 309meteorites in Antarctica, some of which were found near theAllan Hills in Victoria Land.[3] The meteorites appeared to have undergone little change since they were formed at what scientists believe was the birth of theSolar System.[3]
In 1981,lichens found at Victoria Land attracted the attention of NASA because lichens may give clues about where to look for the existence ofextraterrestrial life.[4] Dr. George Denton, a glaciologist at theUniversity of New Hampshire, looked for microorganisms onMount Lister, one of the highest in Antarctica; it has the same kind ofsandstone in which lichens grow.[4]
In 2017, conservationists atCape Adare, Victoria Land, unearthed an ice-covered fruitcake that they believe once belonged to the British explorerRobert Falcon Scott.[5] Scott's Northern Party expedition was in 1911, making the age of the fruitcake 106 years old.[5] A program manager said it was in "excellent condition."[5]
The region includes ranges of theTransantarctic Mountains and theMcMurdo Dry Valleys (the highest point beingMount Abbott in theNorthern Foothills), and the flatlands known as theLabyrinth. The 2,700-metre (9,000 ft)Mount Melbourne is an active volcano in Victoria Land.[6]
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