Challenger Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Challenger Glacier |
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Where Heard Island and McDonald Islands are on the globe
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| Type | cirque/tidewater |
| Location | Heard Island Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Australia |
| Coordinates | 53°2′S 73°28′E / 53.033°S 73.467°E |
| Width | 0.8 nautical miles (1.5 km) |
| Thickness | 55 metres (180 ft) |
| Terminus | eastern side of Corinthian Bay, close west to Saddle Point |
| Status | Retreating |
The Challenger Glacier is a large ice river found on the north side of Heard Island. This island is located far south in the Indian Ocean. Challenger Glacier is a special type called a tidewater glacier. This means it flows directly into the ocean.
The glacier is about 0.8 nautical miles (1.5 kilometers) wide. It empties into the eastern part of Corinthian Bay. This bay is on the island's coast. The glacier is very close to a spot called Saddle Point. To its east is the Downes Glacier. To its west is the Baudissin Glacier.
How Challenger Glacier Was Found and Named
The Challenger Glacier was first drawn on a map by the Gauss expedition. This group explored the area between 1901 and 1903. They thought there was only one big glacier flowing into Corinthian Bay.
Later, in 1948, the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) explored the island. They discovered that more than one glacier actually flowed into the bay. ANARE then named the easternmost of these glaciers "Challenger Glacier." They chose this name to honor the important work of the British Challenger Expedition. This earlier expedition explored the oceans from 1873 to 1876.
- You can see a map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands here: Map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
