Knowra Transantarctic Mountains Transantarctic Mountains A mountain range crossing Antarctica from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea, separating East Antarctica from West Antarctica. Its peaks include exposed rock amid the continent’s ice sheet.
East Antarctica : The larger, higher-elevation part of Antarctica east of the Transantarctic Mountains. The range forms much of its boundary with West Antarctica.
West Antarctic Rift System : A system of rift basins and faults beneath West Antarctica. Extension in this system is linked to uplift along the range’s western margin.
Gondwana : An ancient southern supercontinent that included Antarctica, Africa, South America, Australia, and India. The range’s geological record formed while Antarctica was part of this supercontinent.
Dry Valleys : A group of ice-free valleys in Victoria Land, Antarctica, with extremely low precipitation. They are the largest ice-free landscape within the mountain range.
Mount Kirkpatrick : A prominent mountain in the Queen Alexandra Range of Antarctica. Its fossil-bearing rocks are among the best-known geological discoveries in the range.
West Antarctica : The part of Antarctica west of the Transantarctic Mountains, including the Antarctic Peninsula. The mountains separate this region from East Antarctica.
Antarctic Plate : A tectonic plate encompassing Antarctica and parts of the surrounding ocean floor. Its internal deformation and boundaries frame the range’s tectonic history.
Beacon Supergroup : A sequence of sedimentary rocks exposed in parts of the Transantarctic Mountains. Its strata preserve evidence of ancient environments and later glacial history.
McMurdo Dry Valleys : A cluster of ice-free valleys near McMurdo Sound in Victoria Land. Their exposed terrain supports research on Antarctic ecosystems, climate, and geology.
Mount Erebus : An active volcano on Ross Island, Antarctica, near the Transantarctic Mountains. It anchors the range’s southern Ross Sea setting and is a landmark for Antarctic expeditions.
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