Havola Escarpment facts for kids
The Havola Escarpment is a large, snow-covered cliff in Antarctica. It is found about 55 kilometers (30 nautical miles) northwest of the Thiel Mountains. An escarpment is a long, steep slope or cliff that separates two areas of different heights.
What is the Havola Escarpment?
The Havola Escarpment is shaped like a curve or an arc. It stretches for about 55 kilometers (30 nautical miles) and faces south. This means its steep side points towards the South Pole. It is mostly covered in snow and ice, like much of Antarctica.
How Was It Discovered and Named?
This interesting landform was first seen and mapped by a team from the United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP). This group was exploring the Horlick Mountains area during the years 1958 and 1959.
The escarpment was later named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names. This committee is responsible for naming places in Antarctica. They named it after Major Antero Havola, who was an officer in the US Army.
Major Antero Havola's Journey
Major Havola led a very long journey across Antarctica. He was in charge of a group that traveled by tractor from Byrd Station to South Pole Station. This amazing trip covered about 1,300 kilometers (700 nautical miles). It started on December 8, 1960, and ended on January 11, 1961.
On Christmas Day, December 25, 1960, Major Havola's group passed just a few miles north of this very escarpment. Because of his important leadership and this journey, the escarpment was named in his honor.
