Daniell Peninsula facts for kids

The Daniell Peninsula is a large piece of land in Victoria Land, Antarctica. It sticks out into the ocean between Cape Daniell and Cape Jones. It's partly separated from the Victory Mountains by a big ice river called Whitehall Glacier. But it's also connected to these mountains near Mount Prior.

Scientists from the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition named this peninsula in 1957–58. They named it after Cape Daniell. They also thought it was similar to the Adare and Hallett peninsulas.

What is Daniell Peninsula Made Of?

The Daniell Peninsula is shaped like a long, rounded hill. It is made mostly of a type of rock called basalt. It's similar to the Adare and Hallett peninsulas in this way.

This peninsula is actually made up of at least four shield volcanoes that overlap each other. A shield volcano is a type of volcano that looks like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. This is because its lava flows easily and spreads out far. These volcanoes are part of a larger group called the Hallett Volcanic Province.

Mount Brewster: The Highest Point

Mount Brewster is in the middle of the Daniell Peninsula. It is the highest point on the peninsula, reaching about 2,026 meters (6,647 feet) high.

Scientists have studied the rocks from Mount Brewster. They found that some rocks, called trachyte, are about 12.4 million years old. Other rocks, called hawaiite lava, are about 6.9 million years old. This helps us understand the history of the volcano.

Southern Volcanoes

At the southern end of the peninsula, there's another shield volcano. It has been deeply carved out by a large, bowl-shaped valley called the Mandible Cirque.

This southern volcano also has smaller features. One is a small peak called Tousled Peak. Another is a noticeable, ice-covered peak shaped like a cone, called Mount Lubbock. Scientists found a rock formation, called a dike, in Mandible Cirque that is about 9.5 million years old.

Cape Daniell Volcano

At the northern end of the Daniell Peninsula is the Cape Daniell shield volcano. It reaches about 1,910 meters (6,266 feet) high. Its very top is a flat area that is several kilometers wide. This flat area might be a small caldera filled with ice. A caldera is a large bowl-shaped hollow that forms after a volcano erupts and collapses.

Scientists have also dated the rocks from the Cape Daniell volcano. Some lava rocks, called trachyte, are about 5.8 million years old. Other lava rocks, called benmoreite, are about 5.6 million years old.