Mount Sidley
Encyclopedia
Mount Sidley is the highest volcano
in Antarctica, a member of the Volcanic Seven Summits
, with a summit elevation of 4181–4285 m (13,717.2–14,058.4 ft). It is a massive, mainly snow-covered shield volcano
which is the highest and most imposing of the five extinct volcanic mountains that comprise the Executive Committee Range
of Marie Byrd Land
. The feature is marked by a spectacular 5 km wide caldera
on the southern side and stands NE of Mount Waesche
in the southern part of the range.
The mountain was discovered by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd on an airplane flight, November 18, 1934, and named by him for Mabelle E. Sidley, the daughter of William Horlick who was a contributor to the 1933–35 Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Despite its lofty status, the volcano languishes in obscurity due to its extremely remote location. It is little known even in the mountaineering
world compared to the far more famous Mount Erebus
, the second highest Antarctic volcano which is located near the U.S.
and New Zealand
bases on Ross Island
. The first recorded ascent of Mount Sidley was by New Zealander Bill Atkinson on January 11, 1990, whilst working in support of a USAP scientific field party.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
in Antarctica, a member of the Volcanic Seven Summits
Volcanic Seven Summits
The Volcanic Seven Summits are the highest volcanoes on each of the seven continents, just as the Seven Summits are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents...
, with a summit elevation of 4181–4285 m (13,717.2–14,058.4 ft). It is a massive, mainly snow-covered shield volcano
Shield volcano
A shield volcano is a type of volcano usually built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. They are named for their large size and low profile, resembling a warrior's shield. This is caused by the highly fluid lava they erupt, which travels farther than lava erupted from more explosive volcanoes...
which is the highest and most imposing of the five extinct volcanic mountains that comprise the Executive Committee Range
Executive Committee Range
The Executive Committee Range is a range consisting of five major mountains, volcanic in origin, which trends north-south for along the 126th meridian west, in Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica....
of 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...
. The feature is marked by a spectacular 5 km wide caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
on the southern side and stands NE of Mount Waesche
Mount Waesche
Mount Waesche is a large and prominent mountain of volcanic origin, standing immediately SW of Mount Sidley and marking the southern end of the Executive Committee Range in Marie Byrd Land. The feature is snow covered except for rock exposures on the south and southwestern slopes...
in the southern part of the range.
The mountain was discovered by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd on an airplane flight, November 18, 1934, and named by him for Mabelle E. Sidley, the daughter of William Horlick who was a contributor to the 1933–35 Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Despite its lofty status, the volcano languishes in obscurity due to its extremely remote location. It is little known even in the mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
world compared to the far more famous Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus in Antarctica is the southernmost historically active volcano on Earth, the second highest volcano in Antarctica , and the 6th highest ultra mountain on an island. With a summit elevation of , it is located on Ross Island, which is also home to three inactive volcanoes, notably Mount...
, the second highest Antarctic volcano which is located near the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
bases on Ross Island
Ross Island
Ross Island is an island formed by four volcanoes in the Ross Sea near the continent of Antarctica, off the coast of Victoria Land in McMurdo Sound.-Geography:...
. The first recorded ascent of Mount Sidley was by New Zealander Bill Atkinson on January 11, 1990, whilst working in support of a USAP scientific field party.