Rochray Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rochray Glacier |
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Location of Sentinel Range in Western Antarctica
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 Location in Antarctica
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| Location | Ellsworth Land |
| Coordinates | 72°11′00″S 101°10′00″W / 72.18333°S 101.16667°W |
| Length | 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) |
| Thickness | unknown |
| Terminus | Peacock Sound |
| Status | unknown |
The Rochray Glacier (72°11′S 101°10′W / 72.183°S 101.167°W) is a large river of ice, also known as a glacier. It is about 9 kilometers (5 nautical miles) long. This glacier is found on Thurston Island in Antarctica. It flows south into the Abbot Ice Shelf in an area called Peacock Sound.
Where is Rochray Glacier?
The Rochray Glacier is located in Ellsworth Land, which is a part of Antarctica. Specifically, it lies just east of a place called Hendersin Knob on Thurston Island. As it moves, it flows towards the south, eventually reaching the Abbot Ice Shelf. You can find another landform nearby called Jordan Nunatak, which is a rocky peak that sticks out above the ice. It sits between Rochray Glacier and another glacier called Cox Glacier.
How Was Rochray Glacier Discovered?
Scientists first mapped out the Rochray Glacier using special air photos. These photos were taken way back in December 1946 during a mission called U.S. Navy Operation Highjump. This operation was a big expedition by the United States Navy to explore and map parts of Antarctica.
Who Was Samuel Rochray?
The glacier was named by a group called the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN). They decided to name it after Lieutenant (junior grade) Samuel Rochray. He was a helicopter pilot in the United States Navy. In February 1960, Lieutenant Rochray flew many important flights from a ship called the USS Glacier. During these flights, he helped discover new parts of Thurston Island, which is why this glacier was named in his honor.
