Slessor Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slessor Glacier |
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Location | Coats Land |
Coordinates | 79°50′S 28°30′W / 79.833°S 28.500°W |
Length | 75 nmi (139 km; 86 mi) |
Width | 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) |
Thickness | unknown |
Terminus | Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf |
Status | unknown |
The Slessor Glacier is a very large river of ice located in Antarctica. It stretches for about 140 kilometers (87 miles) long and 90 kilometers (56 miles) wide. This massive glacier flows towards the west, eventually joining the huge Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf. It is found north of the Shackleton Range, a group of mountains in Antarctica.
Discovering the Slessor Glacier
First Sightings
The Slessor Glacier was first spotted from an airplane. This happened in 1956. Explorers from the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (CTAE) saw it during their flights. They also created the first maps of this huge glacier.
How It Got Its Name
The CTAE team named the glacier after a special person. They chose to honor RAF Marshal Sir John Slessor. Sir John Slessor was important because he was the chairman of the expedition's committee. This means he helped lead and organize the entire journey.