Drygalski Glacier (Antarctica)

Drygalski Glacier
Location of Drygalski Glacier in Antarctica
Location	Graham Land
Coordinates	64°43′S 60°44′W / 64.717°S 60.733°W / -64.717; -60.733 (Drygalski Glacier)
Length	18 nmi (33 km; 21 mi)
Terminus	Solari Bay

Drygalski Glacier (64°43′S 60°44′W / 64.717°S 60.733°W / -64.717; -60.733 (Drygalski Glacier)) is a broad glacier, 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) long which flows southeast from Herbert Plateau through a rectangular re-entrant to a point immediately north of Sentinel Nunatak on the east coast of Graham Land, Antarctica.^[1]

Drygalski Glacier is on the Nordenskjöld Coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is east of the Forbidden Plateau, southeast of the Herbert Plateau, southwest of the Detroit Plateau and northeast of the Weddell Sea. The Foster Plateau, Anderson Peak and Seal Nunataks are to the south.^[2]

Drygalski Glacier was discovered in 1902 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition (SwedAE), under Otto Nordenskiöld, and named "Drygalski Bay" after Professor Erich von Drygalski. The feature was determined to be a glacier by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) in 1947.^[1]

Features around the head of the glacier include:

Copernix annotated satellite view

64°43′S 61°25′W / 64.717°S 61.417°W / -64.717; -61.417. A plateau, about 80 square miles (210 km²) in area, lying between Drygalski Glacier and Hektoria Glacier. Photographed by the Falkland Islands and Dependencies Aerial Survey Expedition (FIDASE) in 1956-57 and mapped from these photos by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS). Named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC) in 1960 for Richard A. Foster, FIDS leader of the Danco Island station in 1956 and 1957.^[3]

64°34′S 61°04′W / 64.567°S 61.067°W / -64.567; -61.067. A rock buttress rising to more than 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) high, projecting from the south side of Herbert Plateau into the head of Drygalski Glacier. Mapped from surveys by FIDS (1960–61). Named by tye UK-APC for Guillaume Fender of Buenos Aires, inventor of an early type of track-laying vehicle (British Patent of 1882, taken out by John C. Mewburn).^[4]

64°33′19″S 60°59′31″W / 64.55528°S 60.99194°W / -64.55528; -60.99194 A ridge extending 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) in the south foothills of Herbert Plateau. Descending southwards into Drygalski Glacier, with ice-covered upper part rising to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) high and rocky lower part rising to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft). Situated 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) northwest of Stoykite Buttress, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) northeast of Fender Buttress, and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southwest of The Catwalk. Named after the Bulgarian artist Dimitar Tomov Molerov (1780–1853).^[5]

64°32′40″S 60°54′40″W / 64.54444°S 60.91111°W / -64.54444; -60.91111 An ice-covered buttress rising to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft)^[6] high in the southwest foothills of Detroit Plateau. Situated between south-southwest-flowing tributaries to Drygalski Glacier, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) northwest of Konstantin Buttress, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east-northeast of Molerov Spur, and 4.15 kilometres (2.58 mi) south of The Catwalk. Precipitous, partly ice-free west and southeast slopes. Named after the ancient town of Odesos in Northeastern Bulgaria.^[7]

64°33′45″S 60°50′20″W / 64.56250°S 60.83889°W / -64.56250; -60.83889 An ice-covered buttress rising to 1,830 metres (6,000 ft)^[8] high in the southwest foothills of Detroit Plateau. Situated between southwest-flowing tributaries to Drygalski Glacier, 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) west-northwest of Glazne Buttress, 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) north of Stoykite Buttress, and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of Odesos Buttress. Precipitous, partly ice-free west and south slopes. Named after the Bulgarian ruler Czar Konstantin II, 1396-1422.^[9]

64°36′10″S 60°51′10″W / 64.60278°S 60.85278°W / -64.60278; -60.85278 An ice-covered buttress rising to 1,650 metres (5,410 ft)^[10] high in the southwest foothills of Detroit Plateau. Situated between west-flowing tributaries to Drygalski Glacier, 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi) north of Ruth Ridge, 10.35 kilometres (6.43 mi) east of the south extremity of Fender Buttress, and 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) south of Konstantin Buttress. Precipitous, partly ice-free northwest and southeast slopes. Named after the settlement of Stoykite in Southern Bulgaria.^[11]

Features around the mouth of the glacier include:

64°39′S 60°48′W / 64.650°S 60.800°W / -64.650; -60.800. A black, rocky ridge 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) long in a N-S direction, terminating at its south end in a small peak. The ridge forms the south end of Detroit Plateau and marks a change in the direction of the plateau escarpment along the east coast of Graham Land where it turns west to form the north wall of Drygalski Glacier. Doctor Otto Nordenskiöld, leader of the SwedAE, 1901–04, gave the name Cape Ruth, in honor of his sister, to what appeared to be a cape at the north side of Drygalski Glacier. The feature was determined to be a ridge in 1947 by the FIDS.^[12]

64°41′00″S 60°48′10″W / 64.68333°S 60.80278°W / -64.68333; -60.80278 A 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long and 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) wide glacier situated southwest of Vrachesh Glacier and north of lower Drygalski Glacier. Draining the south slopes of Ruth Ridge, and flowing southeastwards to join Drygalski Glacier east of Bekker Nunataks. Named after the Bulgarian prince St. Boyan-Enravota (9th century).^[13]

64°42′S 60°50′W / 64.700°S 60.833°W / -64.700; -60.833. Three nunataks lying below Ruth Ridge on the north side of Drygalski Glacier. Mapped from surveys by FIDS (1960–61). Named by UK-APC for Lieutenant Colonel Mieczyslaw G. Bekker, Canadian engineer, author of Theory of Land Locomotion, 1956, a comprehensive source of information on the physical relationship between snow mechanics and track-laying vehicles, skis and sledges.^[14]

64°44′30″S 60°43′00″W / 64.74167°S 60.71667°W / -64.74167; -60.71667 A 11.2 kilometres (7.0 mi) wide bay indenting 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) on the Nordenskjöld Coast, north of Balvan Point and south of the east extremity of Richard Knoll. Formed as a result of the break-up of Larsen Ice Shelf in the area in the late 20th century, and subsequent retreat of Drygalski Glacier. Named after the settlement of Solari in Northern Bulgaria.^[15]

64°46′S 60°54′W / 64.767°S 60.900°W / -64.767; -60.900. A largely ice-free peak, 610 metres (2,000 ft) high, on the ridge running east from Foster Plateau toward Sentinel Nunatak. The name Tillberg was given to a group of four rocky outcrops in this area but, since they are not conspicuous topographically, the UK-APC in 1963 recommended that the name be transferred to this more useful landmark. Named by Doctor Otto Nordenskiöld after Judge Knut Tillberg, contributor to the SwedAE, 1901–04. ^[16]

64°46′S 60°44′W / 64.767°S 60.733°W / -64.767; -60.733. A high, black, pyramid-shaped nunatak at the mouth of Drygalski Glacier. Charted by the FIDS in 1947 and so named because of its commanding position at the mouth of Drygalski Glacier.^[17]

64°47′13″S 60°41′46″W / 64.78694°S 60.69611°W / -64.78694; -60.69611 A rocky point on the south side of the entrance to Solari Bay. Situated 4.35 kilometres (2.70 mi) north of Pedersen Nunatak, 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi) southeast of Sentinel Nunatak, and 10.27 kilometres (6.38 mi) south-southwest of Richard Knoll. Formed as a result of the break-up of Larsen Ice Shelf in the area in the late 20th century. Named after the settlement of Balvan in Northern Bulgaria.^[18]