Mount Overlord facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Overlord |
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Aerial view of Mount Overlord from the southwest
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,395 m (11,138 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Overlord
Location in Antarctica
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| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 7,000,000 years |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano (extinct) |
| Volcanic belt | McMurdo Volcanic Group |
| Last eruption | Miocene |
Mount Overlord is a very large mountain located in Antarctica. It is an extinct stratovolcano, which means it's a volcano that hasn't erupted in a very long time and is not expected to erupt again. This impressive peak stands tall in Victoria Land, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the Ross Sea.
About Mount Overlord
Mount Overlord is a huge mountain that looks like a cone, but it's not perfectly shaped. It sits on the edge of a high flat area called a plateau, right above the Aviator Glacier. Most of this mountain is covered in ice and snow.
Even though it's mostly covered in ice, Mount Overlord has a special feature: a large bowl-shaped dip at its top called a caldera. This caldera is about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) wide. Calderas form when a volcano's magma chamber empties during an eruption, causing the ground above to collapse.
How Old is Mount Overlord?
Scientists have studied rocks from the side of Mount Overlord. They found that these rocks are about seven million years old! Because it's been so long since any volcanic activity, scientists believe Mount Overlord is truly extinct. This means it's very unlikely to ever erupt again.
Why is it Called Mount Overlord?
The mountain got its name from a group of explorers. The northern team of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE) explored this area in 1962–63. They named it "Mount Overlord" because it "overlords" or stands much higher than the smaller peaks around it. It truly looks like it's in charge of the landscape!
See also
In Spanish: Monte Overlord para niños
