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Stephenson Bastion facts for kids

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Stephenson Bastion
Highest point
Elevation 1,850 m (6,070 ft)
Geography
Location Coats Land, Antarctica
Parent range Shackleton Range

Stephenson Bastion is a tall, rocky mountain in Antarctica. It stands 1,850 meters (about 6,070 feet) high! This mountain is found in the middle of the Shackleton Range, a group of mountains in a very cold part of the world called Coats Land.

Exploring Stephenson Bastion

Stephenson Bastion is not just any mountain. It's a huge rock mass with very steep cliffs on its south side. Imagine a giant, natural fortress made of rock – that's what a "bastion" is, and this mountain certainly looks like one!

How Was It Discovered?

This impressive mountain was first mapped in 1957. This mapping was done by a group of brave explorers from the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. This expedition was a big journey across Antarctica. Later, in 1967, the mountain was photographed from the sky by planes from the United States Navy. These photos helped people learn even more about this remote area.

Who Was Philip Stephenson?

Stephenson Bastion was named by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC). They chose the name to honor Philip J. Stephenson. He was an Australian geologist who was part of the same trans-Antarctic expedition between 1956 and 1958. Geologists are scientists who study rocks and the Earth's structure.

Ram Bow Bluff

On the eastern side of Stephenson Bastion, there's another interesting rock feature. It's a noticeable rock cliff called Ram Bow Bluff. It got this name because it looks a lot like the "ram bow" of an old battleship. A ram bow is a strong, pointed front part of a ship designed to ram into other ships!

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