There’s a lot to discover and the
hydrographic surveyors are contributing to exploration and mapping of
the underwater world.
The
UK Antarctic Placenames Committee has named
islands in the
British Antarctic Territory after well-known hydrographic
surveyors active in the IHO, like Willett Island, Gorziglia Island and
Lambert Island.
Also Taunton, hometown of the UKHO, has been honoured
with an island being named after it.
Other islands are during the last half year named after Bath and
Cricklewood, towns with UKHO history, Queen Elizabeth II – and other
sources like Lynx (referring to the helicopters) and for example Neville
Mann, a south pole surveyor.
For the
full list and explanations, please see the
UK Antarctic Placenames Committee’s
website.
The following names have been added in the last 6 months:
Astra Peak -67.9510 -67.1753
Peak 851 m in height 3 km east of Camp Point, north-west of
McMorrin Glacier on the
Fallières Coast.
Named after the second part of the RAF’s motto, per ardua ad astra (meaning ‘To the stars’), as part of a regional naming theme of British Forces.
In association with RAF Flight Lieutenant Ron Lord, who made an exceptional flight in 1959 from
Deception Island to
Horseshoe Island to relieve the over-wintering BAS staff, when heavy sea-ice conditions in
Marguerite Bay prevented relief by ship (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Bath Island -62.3810 -59.7898
One of the
Aitcho Islands, north of
Emeline Island,
English Strait,
South Shetland Islands.
Named in association with the local theme of hydrography, after the city of Bath in Somerset, England, where sections of the UKHO were temporarily located during World War II. 14-03-2013
Cricklewood Island -62.3846 -59.7744
One of the Aitcho Islands, north of Emeline Island, south-west of Jorge Island, English Strait, South Shetland Islands.
Named in association with the local theme of hydrography, after
Cricklewood, the district of London where the main part of the UKHO was located until 1968. 14-03-2013
Diamond, Mount -67.8226 -66.7517
Prominent pyramid peak 1198 m in height, east of
Square Bay, between
Forbes and
Swithinbank Glaciers on the Fallières Coast.
The peak was first climbed by the
British Services Antarctic Expedition 2012, and named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second’s Diamond Jubilee year (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Expedition, Mount -67.4996 -66.7806
Prominent peak 955 m in height west of Liboutry Glacier, north-east of
Blaiklock Island on the Fallières Coast.
Named as part of the regional naming theme for British Forces, after the British Services Antarctic Expedition 2012 (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Gorziglia Island -62.3963 -59.7762
One of the Aitcho Islands, south-east of Emeline Island, English Strait, South Shetland Islands. Named in association with the local theme of hydrography, after
Captain Hugo Gorziglia who chaired the IHO’s Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica (2002-2012). 14-03-2013
Lambert Island -62.3711 -59.7638
One of the Aitcho Islands, west of Fort William, English Strait, South Shetland Islands.
Named in association with the local theme of hydrography, after Rear Admiral
Nick Lambert, National Hydrographer (2010-2012) and Commanding Officer of
HMS Endurance (2005-2007). 14-03-2013
Lynx Peak -64.2262 -60.8477
Prominent triangular peak, 1063 m in height, on the south side of
Sikorsky Glacier, east of
Charles Point,
Danco Coast.
Named in association with the theme of pioneers of aviation in this area, after the
Westland Lynx helicopters that aided Antarctic logistics from the Royal Navy ice patrol vessel HMS Endurance (1987-2008). 21-03-2013
Mann Ice Stream -76.8157 -30.2503
Ice stream flowing west into the
Weddell Sea on the
Luitpold Coast.
Named in commemoration of
Neville Mann (1940-1963), who worked for BAS as a surveyor out of Halley Bay 1962-1963.
He died in 1963 whilst on a dog training exercise on sea ice, during a storm (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Mosley Ice Stream -77.3596 -33.2321
Ice stream flowing north-west into the Weddell Sea on the Luitpold Coast.
Named in commemoration of Miles Mosley (1946-1980), who worked as a BAS General Assistant (GA) at
Stonington Island 1970-1973 and Base Commander at
Halley 1977-1980).
Mosley died at Halley in 1980 (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Pegasus Peak -67.4489 -66.7990
Isolated peak 1491 m in height between Liboutry and
Heim Glaciers on the Fallières Coast.
Named after the symbol of the Parachute Regiment, as part of the regional naming theme for British Forces (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue -74.7830 -22.3830
The floating part of the NW extension into BAT of
Stancomb-Willsstraumen,
Dronning Maud Land, flowing into the Weddell Sea between
Brunt Ice Shelf and
Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf, W of
Lyddan Ice Rise,
Caird Coast.
The floating glacier tongue of this feature was roughly charted by BITAE, 15 January 1915, and named
Stancomb Wills Promontory after Miss (later Dame) Janet Stancomb-Wills (d. 1932), a prime supporter of the expedition, after whom one of the
Endurance's boats was also named. Stancomb-Wills Shelf Ice (AGS map, [1929c]).
Stancomb-Wills Ice Tongue (USAF chart 1806, 1947).
Following the voyage of the Argentine
icebreaker General San Martín along this coast in January 1955, it was reported that the glacier tongue had calved along the line of Brunt Ice Front (Thomas, 1957c, p.354).
In January 1956, TAE reported a concentration of icebergs in the area where the seaward part of the floating glacier tongue of this feature had disintegrated.
Stancomb(e)(-)Wills Ice Promontory (USHO, 1956, p.79; Fuchs and Hillary, 1958e, p.24).
Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue, referring to the seaward, mainly floating part of the feature in 75°00'S 22°00'W (AGS map, 1970; Alberts, 1977, p.47).
Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue, referring to the floating part in BAT, W of 20°00'W (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Stanhope Towers -67.6998 -66.7073
Adjacent peaks at the head of
Dogs Leg Fjord, south of Butcher Glacier on the Fallières Coast.
Named after Admiral
Sir Mark Stanhope (b. 1952), former First Sea Lord and supporter of Antarctic activities, as part of the regional naming theme for British Forces (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Taunton Island -62.3841 -59.7821
One of the Aitcho Islands, north of Emeline Island, English Strait, South Shetland Islands.
Named in association with the local theme of hydrography, after the county town of
Taunton in Somerset, England, where the UKHO printing works has been located since 1941 and where the remainder of the Office moved in 1968. 14-03-2013
Westminster Peninsula -67.7525 -66.8750
Peninsula of land between Dogs Leg Fjord and Square Bay on the Fallières Coast.
Named after the Major General the Duke of Westminster for his role as Deputy Commander of the Army Reserves and supporter of Antarctic activities, as part of the regional naming theme for British Forces (APC, 2013). 29-04-2013
Willett Island -62.3838 -59.7643
One of the Aitcho Islands, south of Jorge Island, English Strait, South Shetland Islands.
Named in association with the local theme of hydrography, after Mr Andrew Willett, cartographer with the UKHO who led the IHO’s Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica’s Survey Prioritisation working group for 10 years.
Taunton, home of UKHO, has been honoured with an Antarctic namesake () here on Google Maps
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