Goodge Col facts for kids
Goodge Col is a wide, ice-covered pass located in Antarctica. It sits at a high elevation of about 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) above sea level. This important pass is found between two major mountains: Mount Shinn and the huge Vinson Massif. Both of these are part of the Sentinel Range within the Ellsworth Mountains.
Goodge Col is about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) wide and is quite flat. Because of its size and shape, it's easy to spot from both the east and west sides of the mountain range. The ice from Goodge Col flows in different directions. It drains northeast into the Crosswell Glacier, east into the Hinkley Glacier, and west into the Branscomb Glacier. The ice-filled Jacobsen Valley also helps drain water towards the west.
Why is it called Goodge Col?
Goodge Col was officially named in 2006 by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names. This committee is responsible for naming places in Antarctica. The col was named in honor of John W. Goodge.
Who was John W. Goodge?
John W. Goodge was a professor at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He was a scientist who studied the geology of Antarctica. From the mid-1980s until 2006, he worked as an investigator for the United States Antarctic Program. His research helped us understand how the East Antarctic shield, a very old and stable part of the continent, developed over millions of years. Naming the col after him was a way to recognize his important contributions to Antarctic science.
