Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition facts for kids

The Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE) was an important trip to Antarctica between 1947 and 1948. Its main goal was to explore and study the area around the top of the Weddell Sea.

Exploring Antarctica: The Ronne Expedition

The Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE) was led by Finn Ronne. It was the last big expedition from the United States that was paid for by private groups, not the government. The team explored and mapped parts of the Earth's coastline that no one had seen before. They also proved that the Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea were not connected, which was a big discovery!

The expedition's base was on Stonington Island. A special part of this trip was that it was the first time women stayed through the winter in Antarctica. Finn Ronne's wife, Edith Ronne, was a writer for a newspaper group and reported on the expedition. The main pilot, Mr. Darlington, also brought his wife along.

Isaac Schlossbach was the second-in-command of the expedition. A place called Cape Schlossbach was later named after him to honor his work.

New Places Discovered and Named

During the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, many new places were found and named. These names often honored people who helped the expedition or were important in science and exploration. Here are some of the places they discovered:

• Mount Abrams - Named for Talbert Abrams, an expert in making maps from photos.
• Mount Becker - Named for Ralph A. Becker, a lawyer who helped set up the expedition.
• Mount Brundage - Named for Burr Brundage, who helped with arrangements for the trip.
• English Coast - Named for Captain Robert A.J. English, a leader in Antarctic studies.
• Sweeney Mountains - Named for Mrs. Edward C. Sweeney, who helped fund the expedition.
• Behrendt Mountains - Named for John C. Behrendt, a scientist who studied earthquakes.
• Merrick Mountains - Named for Conrad G. Merrick, an engineer who made maps.
• Gardner Inlet - Named for Irvine Gardner, a scientist at the National Bureau of Standards.
• Thuronyi Bluff - Named for Géza Thuronyi, an expert on Antarctica at the Library of Congress.
• Wetmore Glacier - Named for Alexander Wetmore, who was in charge of the Smithsonian Institution.
• Irvine Glacier - Named for George J. Irvine, from an engineering base in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
• Quilty Nunataks - Named for Patrick Quilty, a geologist from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
• Mount Coman - Named for Dr. F. Dana Coman, a doctor on an earlier Antarctic trip.
• Haag Nunataks - Named for Joseph Haag, who led a big shipbuilding company.
• Ewing Island - Named for Dr. Maurice Ewing, who helped plan the expedition.
• Cape Adams - Named for Lt. Charles J. Adams, a pilot on the expedition.
• Bowman Peninsula - Named for Isaiah Bowman, an American geographer.
• Orville Coast - Named for Captain Howard T. Orville, a leader in naval weather services.
• Ketchum Glacier - Named for Commander Gerald Ketchum, who commanded a ship.
• Mount Austin (Antarctica) - Named for Stephen F. Austin, a famous American settler in Texas.
• Mount Edward - Named for Commander Edward C. Sweeney, who helped the expedition.
• Mount Owen (Antarctica) - Named for Arthur Owen, a member of the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition.