British Royal Navy officer and polar explorer Sir James Ross discovered the island in 1841, and Robert F. Scott, a compatriot explorer, later named it in his honour.
Ross Island was the base for many of the early expeditions to Antarctica. It is the southernmost island reachable by sea. Huts built by Scott's and Shackleton's expeditions are still standing on the island, preserved as historical sites.
South end of Ross Island, with Observation Hill at the center of the image, between McMurdo Station and Scott Base. To the right is Crater Hill visible.Aerial view of the tip of Hut Point Peninsula with McMurdo Station on the near side and Scott Base on the far side
Because of the persistent presence of the ice sheet, the island is sometimes taken to be part of the Antarctic mainland. Its area is 2,460 square kilometres (950 sq mi); only a small portion of the island is free of ice and snow.
The planet's southernmost active volcano, Erebus (3,794 m or 12,448 ft), as well as the dormant volcano Terror (3,230 m or 10,597 ft), are situated on the island. They were named by Captain James Ross after his ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The third highest elevation is Mount Bird, with Shell Glacier and Endeavour Piedmont Glacier on its slopes. Abbott Peak stands between Mount Erebus and Mount Bird. Gamble Cone and Kyle Cone stand in the east of the island.[1]Beeby Peak is 4.4 kilometres (2+3⁄8 nautical miles) east-northeast of the summit of Mount Bird. The Erebus hotspot is thought responsible for the island's volcanic activity.
Despite its relatively small size, Ross Island is the world's 6th highest island and the highest island in Antarctica. It has the highest average elevation of any island.[citation needed]
Landmarks
Many features on or near Ross Island have been charted and named by various survey and exploration groups.
Mount Erebus is the island's most prominent landmark. Hut Point Peninsula, the site of McMurdo Station (US) and Scott Base (New Zealand), projects southwest from its lower slopes. Barne Glacier projects off its western slopes. To the north of Mount Terror are the Kienle Nunataks.
The far eastern point of the island is called Cape Crozier. On the west side of the island is rocky Cape Evans, which forms the north side of Erebus Bay.
Glaciers
Glaciers on the island include Shell Glacier, Terror Glacier, Aurora Glacier, Erebus Glacier and the Erebus Glacier Tongue, Barne Glacier.[2]
77°37′S168°03′E / 77.617°S 168.050°E / -77.617; 168.050.
A large glacier between Mount Terra Nova and Mount Terror on Ross Island, flowing south into Windless Bight.
So named by A.J. Heine of the NZGSAE, 1962-63, because of its association with Mount Terror.[4]
Aurora Glacier
77°37′S167°38′E / 77.617°S 167.633°E / -77.617; 167.633.
A large glacier draining that part of Ross Island between Mount Erebus and Mount Terra Nova, and flowing south into McMurdo Ice Shelf.
Named by A.J. Heine in 1963 after the Aurora, the ship of the Ross Sea Party of the British expedition under Shackleton, 1914-17.[5]
77°36′S166°26′E / 77.600°S 166.433°E / -77.600; 166.433.
Steep glacier which descends from the west slopes of Mount Erebus and terminates on the west side of Ross Island between Cape Barne and Cape Evans where it forms a steep ice cliff.
Discovered by the BrNAE, 1901-04, under Scott.
Named by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-09, under Shackleton after nearby Cape Barne.[7]
Endeavour Piedmont Glacier
77°24′22″S166°42′37″E / 77.406111°S 166.710398°E / -77.406111; 166.710398.
A piedmont glacier, 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) long and 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) wide, between the southwest part of Mount Bird and Micou Point, Ross Island.
In association with the names of expedition ships grouped on this island, named after HMNZS Endeavour, tanker/supply ship which for at least 10 seasons, 1962-63 to 1971-72, transported bulk petroleum products and cargo to Scott Base and McMurdo Station on Ross Island.[8]
Major bays
Large bays include Erebus Bay, Wohlschlag Bay, Lewis Bay and Windless Bight.
77°44′S166°31′E / 77.733°S 166.517°E / -77.733; 166.517.
Bay about 13|nmi)) wide between Cape Evans and Hut Point Peninsula, on the west side of Ross Island.
The bay was explored by the BrNAE (1901-04) under Scott.
It was named by Scott's second expedition, the British Antarctic Expedition (1910-13), which built its headquarters on Cape Evans. The feature is surmounted by Mount Erebus.[6]
77°22′S166°25′E / 77.367°S 166.417°E / -77.367; 166.417.
Large bay indenting the west side of Ross Island between Harrison Bluff and Cape Royds. Charted by the BrNAE under Scott, 1901-04.
Named by the United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in 1964 for Donald E. Wohlschlag, professor of biology at Stanford University, who outfitted the biology laboratories on the United States NavyS Eltanin and at McMurdo Station, where he worked five summer seasons from 1958-64.[9]
77°22′S167°35′E / 77.367°S 167.583°E / -77.367; 167.583.
Bay indenting the north coast of Ross Island between Mount Bird and Cape Tennyson. Charted by the BrNAE under Scott, 1901-04.
Named by the US-ACAN in 1964 for Captain Price Lewis, United States Navy, commanding officer of the USS Staten Island during United States Navy Operation Deep Freeze 1959, and who in United States Navy Operation Deep Freeze 1963 and 1964 was assistant chief of staff and ship group commander, United States Naval Support Force, Antarctica.[10]
