Bentley Subglacial Trench
Encyclopedia
The Bentley Subglacial Trench is a vast topographic trench
in Marie Byrd Land
, West Antarctica
, 80°S, 115°W. At 2,555 meters (8,382 ft) below sea level
, it is the lowest point on the surface of the earth not covered by ocean, although it is covered by ice. Most people do not count it as the lowest point on land, since the overlying ice sheet makes it essentially subterranean. (See Extremes on Earth
and Vestfold Hills
) Also, if the ice melted, the area would be under water. The trench's size is similar to that of Mexico
.
The trench was named in 1961 after Charles R. Bentley who was the geophysicist in charge of the scientific expeditions in West Antarctica in 1957-59 that led to its discovery.
Trench
A trench is a type of excavation or depression in the ground. Trenches are generally defined by being deeper than they are wide , and by being narrow compared to their length ....
in Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land is the portion of West Antarctica lying east of the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ross Sea and south of the Pacific Ocean, extending eastward approximately to a line between the head of the Ross Ice Shelf and Eights Coast. It stretches between 158°W and 103°24'W...
, West Antarctica
West Antarctica
West Antarctica, or Lesser Antarctica, one of the two major regions of Antarctica, is the part of the continent that lies within the Western Hemisphere including the Antarctic Peninsula.-Location and description:...
, 80°S, 115°W. At 2,555 meters (8,382 ft) below sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, it is the lowest point on the surface of the earth not covered by ocean, although it is covered by ice. Most people do not count it as the lowest point on land, since the overlying ice sheet makes it essentially subterranean. (See Extremes on Earth
Extremes on Earth
This article describes extreme locations on Earth. Entries listed in bold are Earth-wide extremes.-Extreme elevations and temperatures per continent:This article describes extreme locations on Earth. Entries listed in bold are Earth-wide extremes....
and Vestfold Hills
Vestfold Hills
Vestfold Hills is an area of rounded rock coastal hills, in extent, located at the north side of Sorsdal Glacier on Ingrid Christensen Coast in Antarctica. The hills are subdivided by three west-trending peninsulas bounded by narrow fjords...
) Also, if the ice melted, the area would be under water. The trench's size is similar to that of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The trench was named in 1961 after Charles R. Bentley who was the geophysicist in charge of the scientific expeditions in West Antarctica in 1957-59 that led to its discovery.
See also
- Extreme points of AntarcticaExtreme points of Antarctica* The tallest mountain in Antarctica is Mount Vinson rising 4,892 metres above sea level.* The lowest point in Antarctica is within the Bentley Subglacial Trench, which reaches 2,555 metres below sea level...
- Extremes on EarthExtremes on EarthThis article describes extreme locations on Earth. Entries listed in bold are Earth-wide extremes.-Extreme elevations and temperatures per continent:This article describes extreme locations on Earth. Entries listed in bold are Earth-wide extremes....
- Extreme points of Earth
- Vestfold HillsVestfold HillsVestfold Hills is an area of rounded rock coastal hills, in extent, located at the north side of Sorsdal Glacier on Ingrid Christensen Coast in Antarctica. The hills are subdivided by three west-trending peninsulas bounded by narrow fjords...
- West Antarctic RiftWest Antarctic RiftThe West Antarctic Rift is a major, active rift valley lying between East and West Antarctica. It encompasses the Ross Sea, the area under the Ross Ice Shelf and a part of West Antarctica...
- Jakobshavn IsbræJakobshavn IsbræJakobshavn Isbræ, also known as the Jakobshavn Glacier and Sermeq Kujalleq is a large outlet glacier in West Greenland. It is located near the Greenlandic town of Ilulissat and ends at the sea in the Ilulissat Icefjord....