The Larsen Glacier () is a glacier flowing southeast from Reeves Névé, through the

Prince Albert Mountains The Prince Albert Mountains () are a major mountain group in Antarctica over 320 km (200 mi) long. Located in Victoria Land, they run north–south between the Priestley and Ferrar glaciers. They were named for Prince Albert, the cons ...

and entering the Ross Sea just south of Mount Crummer in Victoria Land, Antarctica.

Exploration and naming

The Larsen Glacier was discovered by the South Magnetic Party of Ernest Shackleton's

British Antarctic Expedition, 1907–09 The ''Nimrod'' Expedition of 1907–1909, otherwise known as the British Antarctic Expedition, was the first of three successful expeditions to the Antarctic led by Ernest Shackleton and his second expedition to the Antarctic. Its main target, ...

, who followed its course on their way to the plateau area beyond. They named it Larsen Glacier because it flowed past the foot of Mount Larsen, which was constantly in view as they ascended the course of the glacier.

Location

The Larsen Glacier forms to the southeast of Reeves Névé between the Reed Nunataks and Tomovick Nunatak. It flows southeast past Widowmaker Pass and Mount Gerlache in the

. It continues past the mouth of Backstairs Passage Glacier and Mount Crummer to the north, and Fleming Head to the south, to enter

Relief Inlet Relief Inlet () is a narrow inlet at the southwest corner of Terra Nova Bay. The feature is formed along a shear plane caused by differential ice movement near the coast of Victoria Land involving the north edge of Drygalski Ice Tongue and south ...

in the Terra Nova Bay.

Features

Features of the glacier and the terrain it flows through include:

Reed Nunataks

. A cluster of nunataks that form a divide between the upper portions of the

Reeves Glacier Reeves Glacier () is a broad glacier originating on the interior upland and descending between Eisenhower Range and Mount Larsen to merge with the Nansen Ice Sheet along the coast of Victoria Land. Discovered and named by the British Antarctic E ...

and Larsen Glacier, west of

Hansen Nunatak Reeves Glacier () is a broad glacier originating on the interior upland and descending between Eisenhower Range and Mount Larsen to merge with the Nansen Ice Sheet along the coast of Victoria Land. Discovered and named by the British Antarctic Ex ...

. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy aerial photographs, 1956-62. Named by US-ACAN for David Reed, USGS Topographic Engineer at McMurdo Station, 1964-65.

Tomovick Nunatak

. A nunatak along the southern side of the upper portion of Larsen Glacier, west of Mount Gerlache. Mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1956-62. Named by the United States

Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (ACAN or US-ACAN) is an advisory committee of the United States Board on Geographic Names responsible for recommending commemorative names for features in Antarctica. History The committee was established ...

(US-ACAN) for Donald S. Tomovick, United States Navy, utilitiesman at South Pole Station in 1966.

Mount Gerlache

. A prominent mountain, high, standing on the northeast side of Larsen Glacier between Widowmaker Pass and Backstairs Passage Glacier. Discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-04, and named for Lieutenant Adrien de Gerlache.

Backstairs Passage Glacier

. A glacier about long, draining east along the north side of Mount Crummer to the Ross Sea. The Magnetic Pole Party, led by T.W.

Edgeworth David Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David (28 January 1858 – 28 August 1934) was a Welsh Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer. A household name in his lifetime, David's most significant achievements were discovering the major Hunter V ...

, of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-09, ascended this glacier from the Ross Sea, then continued the ascent via Larsen Glacier to the plateau of Victoria Land. So named by David's party because of the circuitous route to get to Larsen Glacier.

Fleming Head

. A prominent rock headland on the coast of Victoria Land, marking the south side of the terminus of Larsen Glacier where it enters the Ross Sea. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1957-62. Named by US-ACAN for John P. Fleming, Senior Chief Construction Electrician, United States Navy, a member of the McMurdo Station winter party, 1962 and 1966.

References

Sources

* * * * {{Glaciers in the Antarctic Glaciers of Victoria Land Scott Coast