Cape Gray
Encyclopedia
Cape Gray is a rocky cape
which forms the east side of the entrance to Commonwealth Bay
, part of the George V Coast
of Antarctica. The cape is actually a small rocky island
which is joined to the icecap of the mainland by an ice ramp. Cape Gray was discovered by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition
(1911–14) under Douglas Mawson
, who named it for Percival Gray
, second officer on the expedition ship SY Aurora.
Cape (geography)
In geography, a cape or headland is a point or body of land extending into a body of water, usually the sea.A cape usually represents a marked change in trend of the coastline. Their proximity to the coastline makes them prone to natural forms of erosion, mainly tidal actions. This results in capes...
which forms the east side of the entrance to Commonwealth Bay
Commonwealth Bay
Commonwealth Bay is an open bay about 48 km wide at the entrance between Point Alden and Cape Gray in Antarctica. It was discovered in 1912 by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition under Douglas Mawson, who established the main base of the expedition at Cape Denison at the head of the bay...
, part of the George V Coast
George V Coast
George V Coast is that portion of the coast of Antarctica lying between Point Alden, at 142° 02' E, and Cape Hudson, at 153° 45' E. Explored by members of the Main Base party of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition under Douglas Mawson who named this feature for King George V of the United Kingdom...
of Antarctica. The cape is actually a small rocky island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
which is joined to the icecap of the mainland by an ice ramp. Cape Gray was discovered 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...
(1911–14) 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...
, who named it for Percival Gray
Percival Gray
Percival Gray was an English sailor. During his early career he served on the Worcester and the Archibald Russell, and then joined the New Zealand Shipping Company. From 1909 to 1911, he worked for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. During this time he attained his First...
, second officer on the expedition ship SY Aurora.