Avalanche Rocks
Encyclopedia
Avalanche Rocks is a vertical rock outcrop
rising to 185 metre, midway between Delay Point
and Jones Rocks
on the west side of Melba Peninsula
, Antarctica. It was discovered in September 1912 by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition
under Douglas Mawson
, and so named because of the occurrence of a tremendous avalanche
while members of the expedition were encamped nearby.
Outcrop
An outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. -Features:Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil and vegetation and cannot be...
rising to 185 metre, midway between Delay Point
Delay Point
Delay Point is a rocky bluff rising to 185 m on the west side of Melba Peninsula, about 6 nautical miles west of Cape Charcot. Discovered by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition under Mawson, 1911–14, and so named by the Eastern Sledge Party of the Western Base because bad weather delayed the...
and Jones Rocks
Jones Rocks
Jones Rocks is a coastal outcrops 4 nautical miles southwest of Avalanche Rocks, on the east shore of the Bay of Winds. Discovered by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911–14, under Mawson, and named by him for Dr. S.E. Jones, medical officer with the expedition....
on the west side of Melba Peninsula
Melba Peninsula
Melba Peninsula is a broad, ice-covered peninsula between Reid Glacier and the Bay of Winds, fronting on Shackleton Ice Shelf. Discovered by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition under Mawson, 1911–14, who named it for Dame Nellie Melba, of Melbourne, a patron of the expedition....
, Antarctica. It was discovered in September 1912 by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition
Australasian Antarctic Expedition
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was an Australasian scientific team that explored part of Antarctica between 1911 and 1914. It was led by the Australian geologist Douglas Mawson, who was knighted for his achievements in leading the expedition. In 1910 he began to plan an expedition to chart...
under Douglas Mawson
Douglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson, OBE, FRS, FAA was an Australian geologist, Antarctic explorer and Academic. Along with Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton, Mawson was a key expedition leader during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.-Early work:He was appointed geologist to an...
, and so named because of the occurrence of a tremendous avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
while members of the expedition were encamped nearby.