Mount Sidley

Mount Sidley is the highest dormant volcano in Antarctica, a member of the Volcanic Seven Summits, with a summit elevation of 4,181–4,285 metres (13,717–14,058 ft).[1][2] It is a massive, mainly snow-covered stratovolcano which is the highest of the five volcanic mountains that comprise the Executive Committee Range of Marie Byrd Land. The feature is marked by a 5 km wide caldera[3] on the southern side and stands NE of Mount Waesche in the southern part of the range.

Mount Sidley
Aerial view of the Mt. Sidley caldera from the southwest
Highest point
Elevation4,285 m (14,058 ft) [1][2]
Prominence2,517 m (8,258 ft) [1]
ListingVolcanic Seven Summits, Ultra
Coordinates77°02′S 126°06′W [1]
Geography
Mount Sidley
Antarctica
LocationMarie Byrd Land, Antarctica
Parent rangeExecutive Committee Range
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Volcanic fieldMarie Byrd Land Volcanic Province
Climbing
First ascent1990 by Bill Atkinson (New Zealand)

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.[4] Despite its height, the volcano's extremely remote location means that it is little known even in the mountaineering world compared to the much more accessible 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 United States Antarctic Program scientific field party.[5]

Topographic map of Mounts Sidley and Waesche (1:250,000 scale)
Landsat 8 image of Mount Sidley and the Executive Committee Range

See also

Notes
  1. "Antarctica Ultra-Prominent Summits". peaklist.org. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  2. . The map above showed the elevation as 4,181 m (13,717 ft).
  3. Panter, Kurt S.; Kyle, Philip R.; Smellie, John L. (September 1997). "Petrogenesis of a Phonolite-Trachyte Succession at Mount Sidley, Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica". Journal of Petrology. 38 (9): 1225–1253. doi:10.1093/petroj/38.9.1225. ISSN 0022-3530. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  4. "Mount Sidley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  5. Gildea, Damien (2015). Mountaineering in Antarctica: complete guide: Travel guide. Primento. ISBN 9782511031346.

References
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