Wessbecher Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wessbecher Glacier |
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Location of Sentinel Range in Western Antarctica.
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 Location in Antarctica
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| Location | Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Land |
| Coordinates | 78°10′00″S 85°30′00″W / 78.16667°S 85.50000°W |
| Length | 7 nmi (13 km; 8 mi) |
| Thickness | unknown |
| Status | unknown |
The Wessbecher Glacier (78°53′S 84°18′W / 78.883°S 84.300°W) is a large river of ice found in Antarctica. It is about 7 nautical miles (which is about 13 kilometers) long. This glacier flows from Mount Inderbitzen and Mount Mullen in a southeast and south direction.
What is Wessbecher Glacier?
A glacier is like a very slow-moving river made of ice. The Wessbecher Glacier is one such ice river. It is located in the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica, which is the coldest continent on Earth.
Where is Wessbecher Glacier Located?
The Wessbecher Glacier is part of the main ridge of the Sentinel Range. On its west side, you can find Peristera Peak, Lishness Peak, and Stikal Peak. To its east is Marze Peak, which is in an area called Petvar Heights. All these places are in Ellsworth Land, a part of Antarctica.
How Was Wessbecher Glacier Discovered and Named?
The Wessbecher Glacier was first mapped between 1957 and 1959. This mapping was done by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) using special surveys and air photos taken by the United States Navy.
The glacier was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN). They named it after a person named Howard O. Wessbecher. He was an important member of a group that stayed at McMurdo Sound in 1956 during the winter. His job was to help prepare everything needed to set up the South Pole Station, which is a research station at the South Pole.
