King Haakon VII Sea (Norwegian:Kong Håkon VII Hav) is a proposed name for part of theSouthern Ocean on the coast ofEast Antarctica.
TheInternational Hydrographic Organization (IHO), often recognized as the authority for worldwide water body names, does not include this sea name. The IHO 2002 draft was never approved by the IHO (or any other organization), and the 1953 IHO document (which does not contain the name) remains currently in force.[1] Most leading geographic authorities and atlases do not use the name, including the 2014 10th edition World Atlas from theNational Geographic Society.
By a narrow proposed definition, this sea would be between theWeddell Sea and a proposedLazarev Sea name, and thus stretch only alongPrincess Martha Coast fromCape Norvegia at 12°18′W, the easternmost point of the Weddell Sea, toFimbul Ice Shelf close to thePrime Meridian at 0°0′, which is proposed as the western border of Lazarev Sea.
From the Norwegian point of view, which also does not recognizeLazarev Sea, King Haakon VII Sea is situated along the entire coast ofQueen Maud Land between 20°W and 45°E and stretches for about 10,090 km (6,270 mi) from theStancomb-Wills Glacier at 19°W onPrincess Martha Coast in the west toShinnan Glacier at 44°38′E on the eastern border ofPrince Olav Coast in the east.[2][3]
The water here is covered by ice most of the year. During autumnpack ice forms which does not break up until spring. The rough coordinates of the proposed sea area would be67°S20°E / 67°S 20°E /-67; 20.
The area is an importanthabitat for theRoss seal (Ommatophoca rossii).[4][5]
On 27 January 1820 RussianFabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen made the first confirmed sighting ofTerra Australis (Antarctica) as he was cruising this area near theFimbul Ice Shelf at Princess Märtha Coast.[6][7]
The area is named in honour ofHaakon VII, the first king ofNorway after thedissolution from Sweden.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), American Society of Mammalogists (ASM), accessdate=2010-10-28
