The Transantarctic Mountains are a unique natural formation that "cuts" the mainland of Antarctica into several unequal parts. The terrain here is characterized by the presence of an abundance of valleys and rocky peaks. The Transantarctic Mountains are an extremely rich place for fossil exhibits. Therefore, among researchers in the field of paleontology, this ridge is known only as the "Museum of Dinosaurs".
A Brief History
The Transantarctic Ridge was first marked on a map by British explorer James Ross in 1841. However, the pioneer failed to reach the foot of the local peaks. It wasn't until 1908 that the expeditions of Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen crossed the ridge on a long journey to reach the South Pole.
The thorough exploration of the Transantarctic Mountains took place in 1947. For this, a special expedition was organized, which was called the "High Jump". The area was studied from aircraft. As a result, the researchers were able to compile fairly detailed geographic maps.region.
Where are the Transantarctic Mountains?
The ridge system, formed from rocky rocks, stretches for several thousand kilometers from the Weddell Sea to Coates Land. This is one of the longest mountain chains in the world.
On which continent are the Transantarctic Mountains located? Geographers consider the ridge as a conditional border that separates East and West Antarctica. At a distance of about 480 km from the specified chain of rocks is the South Pole.
Geology
Geologically, the Transantarctic Mountains are identified as a large outcrop of the earth's crust to the surface, which was formed as a result of active seismic activity about 65 million years ago. Other ridges, which are located within the boundaries of the mainland Antarctica, are of much later origin.
What is the highest point here? The Transantarctic Mountains reach a height of 4528 meters above sea level at a point called Kirk Patrick. The rock deposits of this formation contain the maximum number of fossil organisms along the entire ridge. For tens of millions of years, optimal climatic conditions were maintained here for the life and development of living organisms, which actually explains the high concentration of their remains in the rock.
Interesting facts
There are a number of excitingmoments regarding the history of the exploration of the Transantarctic Ridge:
- In the middle of the last century, the largest iceberg ever recorded by researchers broke away from a local glacier. Its area was 31,080 km, which exceeds the territory of some European countries.
- The Transantarctic Mountains, in particular their region called McMurdo, are the driest place on the planet, where precipitation has not been observed for over 2 million years.
- In the so-called Taylor Valley, which is part of the presented mountain range, there is a waterfall from which streams of a blood-red hue flow down. Researchers explain this phenomenon by the saturation of water with the products of the activity of anaerobic bacteria.
- In the formation that is part of the highest peak of the Kirk Patrick Range, the remains of a winged dinosaur were found in the middle of the last century. The dimensions of this fossil were equal to those of a large crow. Fossils of Cryolophosaurus, a small carnivorous dinosaur, have been recovered near this site.
- In one of the extreme points of the mountain range - Cape Adare - there are huts built by the legendary Norwegian pioneer Carsten Borchgrevink. It was he who in 1895, earlier than other researchers, set foot on the mainland of Antarctica. The buildings are quite well preserved to our time, due to the extremely low temperatures that are observed in the region.
In closing
The Transantarctic Ridge remains one of the least explored places in the world to this day. Blamearound the extreme remoteness of a natural object from a large civilization, as well as difficult climatic conditions. At the same time, the mountain range is a place of fantastic beauty that resembles landscapes from other planets.
