Compton Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Compton Glacier |
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Location of Heard Island and McDonald Islands on the globe
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| Type | cirque / tidewater |
| Location | Heard Island Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Australia |
| Coordinates | 53°3′S 73°37′E / 53.050°S 73.617°E |
| Length | 3 nautical miles (6 km) |
| Thickness | 55 meters |
| Terminus | Compton Lagoon, between Gilchrist Beach and Fairchild Beach |
| Status | Retreating |
Compton Glacier is a glacier, 3 nautical miles (6 km) long, flowing northeast from the lower slopes of the Big Ben massif to the northeast side of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Its terminus is located at Compton Lagoon, between Gilchrist Beach and Fairchild Beach. To the northwest of Compton Glacier is Ealey Glacier, whose terminus is located close southeast of Cape Bidlingmaier. To the southeast of Compton Glacier is Brown Glacier, whose terminus is located at Brown Lagoon. Round Hill separates Compton Glacier from Brown Glacier.
Discovery and naming
The lower reaches of this glacier were charted and named Morgan's Iceberg on an 1860 sketch map compiled by Captain H.C. Chester, American sealer operating in the area during this period. The feature was surveyed in 1948 by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions, who applied the name Compton Glacier for G.S. Compton, assistant surveyor with the expedition.
- Click here to see a map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, including all major topographical features
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Compton Glacier" (content from the Geographic Names Information System).
See also
In Spanish: Glaciar Compton para niños
