Vestfold Hills

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The name Vestfoldberge describes an Antarctic oasis with an area of ​​rocky coastal hills on the north side of the Sørsdal glacier on the Ingrid Christensen Coast in Antarctica.

Geography

The hills are subdivided by three runs in a westerly direction through narrow fjords and peninsulas limited. Most of the hills are between 30 and 90 meters high, the highest peak rises almost 160 meters on. The area covers about 400 km ². As one of the few mainland regions in Antarctica are ice-free.

Discovery history

They were discovered on February 20, 1935 by Captain Klarius Mikkelsen (* 1887) with the Norwegian whalers Torshavn. In the northern part first explorations were carried out by crew members.

The Vestfoldberge are named after Vestfold, a Norwegian Fylke ( region ) in which is also the center of the whaling industry with Sandefjord. The hillside area and the off-shore islands were mapped by aerial photos, the Lars Christensen Expedition recorded 1936/37. Subsequent short landings were made ​​by Lincoln Ellsworth and Hubert Wilkins in 1939, as part of Operation High Jump 1946/47, further air photos were taken. 1954 and 1955 were held more landings and consecutive research by ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions ). In January 1957, the expedition established the Davis station.