Spur (mountain)
Encyclopedia
A spur is a subsidiary summit of a hill
or mountain
. By definition, spurs have low topographic prominence
, as they are lower than their parent summit and are closely connected to them on the same ridgeline. Examples of spurs include:
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
or mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
. By definition, spurs have low topographic prominence
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
, as they are lower than their parent summit and are closely connected to them on the same ridgeline. Examples of spurs include:
- Abbott SpurAbbott SpurAbbott Spur is an ice-covered spur in Victoria Land, Antarctica, separating the lower ends of Rutgers Glacier and Allison Glacier on the west side of the Royal Society Range.-Discovery and naming:...
, which separates the lower ends of Rutgers GlacierRutgers GlacierRutgers Glacier is a steep glacier on the west side of the Royal Society Range in the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Rutgers Glacier descends southwest from Johns Hopkins Ridge and Mount Rucker to enter the Skelton Glacier...
and Allison GlacierAllison Glacier (Antarctica)Allison Glacier is a small glacier in Victoria Land, Antarctica. Its head is located just north of Mount Huggins, descending from the west slopes of Royal Society Range into Skelton Glacier...
on the west side of the Royal Society RangeRoyal Society RangeThe Royal Society Range is a majestic mountain range in Victoria Land, Antarctica. With its summit at , the massive Mount Lister forms the highest point in this range. Mount Lister is located along the western shore of McMurdo Sound between the Koettlitz, Skelton and Ferrar glaciers...
in Victoria LandVictoria LandVictoria Land is a region of Antarctica bounded on the east by the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ross Sea and on the west by Oates Land and Wilkes Land. It was discovered by Captain James Clark Ross in January 1841 and named after the UK's Queen Victoria...
, Antarctica - Boott SpurBoott SpurBoott Spur is a minor peak located in Coos County, New Hampshire. The mountain is named after Dr. Francis Boott , and is part of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains...
near Mount WashingtonMount Washington (New Hampshire)Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at , famous for dangerously erratic weather. For 76 years, a weather observatory on the summit held the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, , on the afternoon of April 12, 1934... - Kelley SpurKelley SpurKelley Spur is a rock spur 2 nautical miles east of Spear Spur on the south side of Dufek Massif in the Pensacola Mountains. Mapped by the United States Geological Survey from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1956-66. Named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Samuel...
, 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Spear SpurSpear SpurSpear Spur is a rock spur 3 nautical miles east of Clinton Spur and 2 nautical miles west of Kelley Spur, on the south side of Dufek Massif, Pensacola Mountains. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1956-66...
on the south side of Dufek MassifDufek MassifDufek Massif is a range of peaks in the Pensacola Mountains of Antarctica, centered at . It covers and its highest point is England Peak . It is named for Rear Admiral George J. Dufek who participated in the exploration of the Antarctic in the mid-twentieth century. Dufek Coast, Dufek Head, and...
in the Pensacola MountainsPensacola MountainsThe Pensacola Mountains are a large group of mountain ranges and peaks in Antarctica, extending 450 km in a NE-SW direction, comprising the Argentina Range, Forrestal Range, Dufek Massif, Cordiner Peaks, Neptune Range, Patuxent Range, Rambo Nunataks and Pecora Escarpment...
, Antarctica - the South Summit of Mount EverestMount EverestMount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
- Skye Peak at Killington Ski ResortKillington Ski ResortKillington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
See also
- Salients, re-entrants and pocketsSalients, re-entrants and pocketsA salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. The salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable. The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant...