Mattox Bastion facts for kids

Mattox Bastion is a tall peak in the Asgard Range of Victoria Land, Antarctica. It is one of the peaks known as the Inland Forts. This area is very cold and icy!

On the southwest side of Mattox Bastion, you'll find a bowl-shaped valley called Flory Cirque. It sits on the north side of the Taylor Glacier. Two rocky ridges, named West Groin and East Groin, are on either side of Flory Cirque. West Groin also separates Flory Cirque from another valley called Mudrey Cirque.

Discovering Mattox Bastion's Location

Mattox Bastion is located in a very remote part of Antarctica. Its exact spot is at 77 degrees 38 minutes South and 160 degrees 56 minutes East. This is deep in the icy continent.

The Asgard Range is a mountain range in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. These valleys are unique because they are mostly free of snow and ice. This is unusual for Antarctica!

What is a Cirque?

A "cirque" (pronounced "serk") is a bowl-shaped hollow. It is often found at the head of a valley or on a mountainside. Glaciers usually carve out these shapes. Flory Cirque is one such example near Mattox Bastion.

What are Groins?

In geography, a "groin" can refer to a narrow ridge or spur of land. West Groin and East Groin are rocky ridges. They help define the landscape around Flory Cirque.

How These Antarctic Places Got Their Names

Many places in Antarctica are named after explorers, scientists, or important events. This helps people remember who discovered them or studied them. It also helps map the vast continent.

West Groin was the first of these features to be named. It received its name from the Terra Nova Expedition. This was a British Antarctic journey that took place from 1910 to 1913. Captain Robert Falcon Scott led this famous expedition.

Naming Mattox Bastion

Mattox Bastion, Flory Cirque, and East Groin were named later. The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names gave them their official names. This committee helps name places in Antarctica.

Mattox Bastion was named after Commander Benjamin G. Mattox. He was an officer in the United States Navy. Commander Mattox was in charge of the U.S. Navy team that stayed at McMurdo Station during the winter of 1971. McMurdo Station is a large research base in Antarctica.

The Story of Flory Cirque

Flory Cirque was named for Robert F. Flory. He was a geologist who worked with the United States Antarctic Research Program. A geologist is a scientist who studies rocks and the Earth. Robert Flory spent three seasons, from 1968 to 1971, doing research at McMurdo Station.

East Groin was named because of its location next to West Groin. It made sense to give it a similar name since they are a pair of features.