UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee facts for kids

The UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee (or UK-APC) is a special group in the United Kingdom government. It's part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (which is like the UK's international relations department). This committee is in charge of suggesting names for places like mountains, glaciers, and bays in two very cold and distant areas: the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI).

Once the UK-APC suggests a name, it has to be officially approved by the people in charge of the BAT and SGSSI. These names are then written down in special books called gazetteers, which are like dictionaries of place names. The names for the British Antarctic Territory are also shared with a big international group called the SCAR, which keeps a worldwide list of Antarctic names called the Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica. The committee can also suggest names for places in other parts of Antarctica that don't belong to any country. These names are then sent to other groups that name places, or the UK-APC might decide them itself if the area isn't claimed by any country.

How Places Get Their Names

Have you ever wondered how places in Antarctica get their names? The UK-APC follows certain rules and ideas when choosing names. They often name places after people who have explored Antarctica, scientists who studied the area, or even animals and plants found there. Sometimes, a place is named because it looks like something, or because of a funny story!

Naming Places: Interesting Examples

Here are a few cool examples of places named by the committee, showing how different things inspire their choices:

• Anvil Crag: This place was named because it looks like an Anvil, a heavy block of iron used by blacksmiths.
• Blechnum Peaks: These peaks are named after a rare fern called Blechnum penna-marina, which grows in the region. It's a way to celebrate the unique plant life.
• Bonner Beach: This beach is named after Nigel Bonner, a zoologist who was an expert on Antarctic mammals. It's also a breeding ground for Weddell seals!
• Buzfuz Rock: This fun name comes from Sergeant Buzfuz, a character in Charles Dickens' famous book The Pickwick Papers.
• Canis Heights: This area is named after the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor, which are groups of stars that look like dogs.
• Catcher Icefall: This name reminds us of the whaling industry, which used to be very active in the Antarctic.
• Hektor Icefall: Another name linked to whaling, this one is named after the Hektor Whaling Company.
• Hydrurga Rocks: These rocks are named after Hydrurga leptonyx, which is the scientific name for the leopard seal, a powerful predator found in the Antarctic.
• Landing Cove: This name is very descriptive, as it's a place where people can easily land.
• The Menhir: This place is named after a Menhir, which is a tall, upright stone, often from ancient times. This suggests the rock formation looks like one.
• Binary Peaks: Originally called Doppelspitz (which means "double peak" in German), the name was changed in 1971 to Binary Peaks, meaning two peaks.
• Hospital Point: This area was first called Rocky Point, but its name was changed in 1961 to Hospital Point, perhaps because there was a medical facility nearby.
• Humpback Rocks: These rocks were originally named Knolrokset, but the name was changed in 1954 to Humpback Rocks, likely because they look like the back of a Humpback whale.

More Named Places

Many other places in Antarctica have been named by the UK-APC, often honoring explorers, scientists, or even describing their unique shapes. Here is a longer list of some of these named locations:

See also

• SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica
• Australian Antarctic Names and Medals Committee