List of glaciers on Thurston Island facts for kids
Thurston Island is a large island covered in ice, located near the end of Ellsworth Land in Antarctica. It's about 215 kilometers (134 miles) long and 90 kilometers (56 miles) wide, covering an area of 15,700 square kilometers (6,062 square miles). This makes it the third-largest island in Antarctica, right after Alexander Island and Berkner Island. Thurston Island is home to many glaciers, which are like slow-moving rivers of ice. Many of these glaciers are named after brave people who explored Antarctica, especially during important missions like the United States Navy's Operation Highjump in 1946-47 and the Bellingshausen Sea Expedition in 1960. These expeditions used planes and ships to map and photograph the icy continent.
Contents
Glaciers of Thurston Island
Northwest Glaciers
These glaciers flow north from the western part of Thurston Island.
Foley Glacier
This glacier is about 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) long. It flows north from the very western end of Thurston Island, just east of Cape Petersen. It was named by the US-ACAN (United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names) after Kevin M. Foley. He was a computer specialist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) who worked on maps of Antarctica's glaciers and coastlines.
Sessums Glacier
This glacier flows into the top of Henry Inlet on the north side of Thurston Island. It was named after Lieutenant Commander Walter Sessums. He was a helicopter pilot during Operation Highjump, which took amazing aerial photos of Thurston Island in 1946-47.
Rexford Glacier
This glacier flows northeast into the top of Wagoner Inlet on the north side of Thurston Island. It was named after Phillip W. Rexford, an Aviation Radioman. He was part of the aircrew during Operation Highjump, which helped photograph this glacier and the nearby coast.
Litz Glacier
Flowing northeast from the area around Smith Peak and Litz Bluff, this glacier enters the western part of Peale Inlet. It was named after A.K. Litz, a Chief Photographer's Mate. He was also part of Operation Highjump, taking aerial photos of this glacier and the surrounding areas.
Robbins Glacier
This is a wide glacier that flows into the top of Peale Inlet on the north side of Thurston Island. It was named after James Haskin Robbins, an Aviation Radarman from Operation Highjump. He was an aircrewman on a seaplane that crashed on the nearby Noville Peninsula in December 1946. His courage and quick thinking helped six survivors who were later rescued.
Glaciers of Noville Peninsula
These glaciers are found on the Noville Peninsula, flowing from north to south.
Sikorski Glacier
This is a small glacier in the northeast part of the Noville Peninsula. It flows northeast into the Bellingshausen Sea, located between Mount Palmer and Mount Feury. It was first mapped from air photos taken during Operation Highjump. The glacier is named after Stephen Sikorski, an electronics technician on the USS Glacier. He helped set up an automatic weather station on Thurston Island in February 1960.
Frankenfield Glacier
Another small glacier in the northeast part of Noville Peninsula, this one flows east-northeast into the Bellingshausen Sea. It's found between Mount Feury and Mulroy Island. It was also first mapped from air photos from Operation Highjump. It's named after Lieutenant (j.g.) Chester Frankenfield, a meteorologist. He was part of the Bellingshausen Sea Expedition and set up a weather station on Thurston Island in 1960.
Pelter Glacier
This glacier is about 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) long. It flows from the east side of the Noville Peninsula into the west side of Murphy Inlet. It was mapped from air photos taken by the United States Navy Squadron VX-6 in January 1960. It's named after J.A. Pelter, an aerial photographer with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition in 1933-35.
Northeast Glaciers
These glaciers are located east of Noville Peninsula, on the north side of the island.
Warr Glacier
This is a wide glacier that flows north into the southwest arm of Murphy Inlet. It was named after William Warr, an Aviation Machinist's Mate during Operation Highjump. He was one of the six survivors of the seaplane crash on Noville Peninsula in December 1946.
Mincer Glacier
This wide glacier flows from Zuhn Bluff into the southeast arm of Murphy Inlet on the north side of Thurston Island. It was named after Lieutenant Dale F. Mincer, a co-pilot of a PBM Mariner aircraft during Operation Highjump. His crew took aerial photos of Thurston Island.
Goff Glacier
Another wide glacier, this one flows from Parker Peak into the top of Koether Inlet on the north side of Thurston Island. It was named after Lieutenant (jg) Robert G. Goff, who was also a co-pilot of a PBM Mariner aircraft during Operation Highjump. He helped photograph the island.
Payne Glacier
This glacier is in the northern part of Evans Peninsula on Thurston Island. It flows into the sea east of Cape Walden. It was named after J.B. Payne, a Photographer's Mate and aircrewman during Operation Highjump. He helped take aerial photos of the island.
Deadmond Glacier
This glacier is about 6 nautical miles (11 km) long. It flows from the east side of Evans Peninsula into Cadwalader Inlet. It was discovered by the United States Navy Bellingshausen Sea Expedition in February 1960. It's named after Lieutenant Commander Robert B. Deadmond, who was an officer on the USS Burton Island during this expedition.
Marck Glacier
This glacier flows into the very southwest end of Cadwalader Inlet on the north side of Thurston Island. It was named after George H. Marck, an Aviation Machinist's Mate and aircrewman during Operation Highjump. He helped take aerial photos of the island.
Mahaffey Glacier
This glacier flows into the top of Morgan Inlet at the eastern end of Thurston Island. It was named after J.S. Mahaffey, a Photographer's Mate during Operation Highjump. He was part of the team that took aerial photos of Thurston Island.
Southwest Coast Glaciers
These glaciers are located west of Von der Wall Point and flow towards the south.
Kannheiser Glacier
This glacier is about 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) long. It flows south into the Abbot Ice Shelf. It was first mapped from air photos taken during Operation Highjump. It's named after Lieutenant Commander William Kannheiser, a helicopter pilot on the USS Glacier. He explored and photographed new parts of Thurston Island in February 1960.
Craft Glacier
This is a valley glacier about 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) long. It flows south to the Abbot Ice Shelf in Peacock Sound. It was first mapped from air photos taken during Operation Highjump. It's named after Ens. Charles Craft, a helicopter pilot on the USS Glacier who made exploratory flights around Thurston Island in 1960.
Rochray Glacier
This glacier is about 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) long. It flows south to the Abbot Ice Shelf in Peacock Sound. It was first mapped from air photos taken during Operation Highjump. It's named after Lieutenant (j.g.) Samuel Rochray, a helicopter pilot on the USS Glacier. He made several flights in 1960 where new parts of Thurston Island were discovered.
Cox Glacier
This is a small glacier located just east of Rochray Glacier. It flows south to the Abbot Ice Shelf in Peacock Sound. It was mapped from air photos taken by the United States Navy Squadron VX-6 in January 1960. It's named after Lieutenant (j.g.) Jerry G. Cox, a helicopter pilot on the USS Burton Island. He made exploratory flights to Thurston Island in 1960.
Hale Glacier
This glacier is about 6 nautical miles (11 km) long. It flows southwest to the Abbot Ice Shelf in Peacock Sound. It was mapped from air photos taken by the United States Navy Squadron VX-6 in January 1960. It's named after Lieutenant (j.g.) Bill J. Hale, a helicopter pilot on the USS Burton Island. He also made exploratory flights to Thurston Island in 1960.
Myers Glacier
This is a valley glacier about 7 nautical miles (13 km) long. It flows southwest from Mount Noxon to the Abbot Ice Shelf in Peacock Sound. It was mapped from aerial photos taken by the United States Navy Squadron VX-6 in January 1960. It's named after Lieutenant (j.g.) Dale P. Myers, a helicopter pilot on the USS Burton Island. He made exploratory flights to Thurston Island in 1960.
Bellisime Glacier
This glacier is about 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) long. It flows south from Thurston Island, east of Myers Glacier. It was named after Lynda B. Bellisime, a specialist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). She was part of a team that created important maps of Antarctica in the 1990s.
Bearman Glacier
This glacier starts east of Mount Howell in central Thurston Island. It flows south into Schwartz Cove on the island's south side. It was named after F.O. Bearman, a Photographer's Mate during Operation Highjump. He helped take aerial photos of this glacier and the nearby coast.
Bulbur Glacier
This glacier is in south-central Thurston Island. It flows south along the west side of Boker Rocks into O'Dowd Cove. It was named after E.R. Bulbur, a Photographer's Mate during Operation Highjump. He helped take aerial photos of Thurston Island.
Southeast Coast Glaciers
These glaciers are located east of Von der Wall Point and flow towards the south.
Hlubeck Glacier
This glacier is about 9 nautical miles (16.7 km) west of Long Glacier in southeast Thurston Island. It flows south along the east side of Shelton head into the Abbot Ice Shelf. It was named after Vernon R. Hlubeck, an Aviation Radioman and aircrewman during Operation Highjump. He helped take aerial photos of Thurston Island.
Long Glacier
This glacier is about 8 nautical miles (14.8 km) long in the southeast part of Thurston Island. It flows south to the Abbot Ice Shelf. It was mapped by the USGS using surveys and United States Navy air photos from 1960-66. It's named after Fred A. Long, Jr., an aviation machinist with the United States Navy Squadron VX-6, who spent time in Antarctica in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Savage Glacier
This glacier is at the eastern end of Thurston Island, south of Tierney Peninsula. It flows east to Seraph Bay. It was discovered during helicopter flights from the USS Glacier and Burton Island by people from the United States Navy Bellingshausen Sea Expedition in February 1960. It's named after Lieutenant John Savage, a Dental Officer on the USS Glacier. He helped set up important survey points in the area.
Levko Glacier
This glacier flows from Pallid Crest to the eastern end of Thurston Island. It enters Seraph Bay between Tierney Peninsula and Simpson Bluff. It was named after G. Levko, a Photographer's Mate during Operation Highjump. He helped take aerial photos of Thurston Island.
Sources
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Board on Geographic Names.- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey.
