Masson Range

The Masson Range is a high broken chain of mountains, consisting primarily of the North Masson, Central Masson and South Masson Ranges, forming a part of the Framnes Mountains.

Masson Range
Northern and Central Massons from sea
Highest point
Elevation	1,089.1 m (3,573 ft)
Coordinates	67°51′S 62°50′E
Geography
Antarctica
Region	Mac. Robertson Land

Physical

The Masson Range has several peaks over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The highest point is 1,089.1 metres (3,573 ft). The range is about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) south of Mawson Station. It extends for about 15 miles (24 km) in a north–south direction. The North Masson Range and Central Masson Range are large massifs, and the South Masson Range contains several groups of nunataks.

Exploration

The Masson Range was discovered and charted by the British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition, 1929–31, under Douglas Mawson, and named for Professor Sir David Orme Masson, a member of the Advisory Committee for this expedition as well as the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911–14, also under Mawson. The mountains were first visited by an Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions party led by John Béchervaise in 1956.

North Masson Range

Masson Range (upper and center) and Trilling Peaks (lower)

Main article: North Masson Range

67°47′S 62°49′E. The Masson Range is divided into three parts of which this segment is the northern, rising to 1,030 metres (3,380 ft) and extending three miles in a north-south direction. The Masson Range was discovered and named by BANZARE, 1929-31, under Mawson. This northern range was mapped by Norwegian cartographers from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936-37, and named Nordkammen (the north comb or crest). The approved name, suggested by ANCA in 1960, more clearly identifies the feature as a part of Masson Range. Not: Gora Nurkammen, Nordkammen, Nordkammen Crest, North Crest.

Central Masson Range

Main article: Central Masson Range

67°50′S 62°52′E. The Masson Range is divided into three parts of which this segment is the central, rising to 1,120 metres (3,670 ft) and extending four miles in a north-south direction. The Masson Range was discovered and named by BANZARE, 1929-31, under Mawson. This central range was mapped by Norwegian cartographers from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936-37, and named Mekammen (the middle comb or crest). The approved name, suggested by ANCA in 1960, more clearly identifies the feature as a part of Masson Range. Not: Mekammen, Mekammen Crest, Middle Crest.

South Masson Range

Main article: South Masson Range

67°53′S 62°47′E. The Masson Range is divided into three parts of which this segment is the southern, rising to 1,070 metres (3,510 ft) and extending two miles in a northeast-southwest arc. The Masson Range was discovered and named by BANZARE, 1929-31, under Mawson. This southern range was mapped by Norwegian cartographers from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936-37, and named Sörkammen (the south comb or crest). The approved name, suggested by ANCA in 1960, more clearly identifies the feature as a part of Masson Range. Not: Gora Serkammen, Sörkammen, Sørkammen Crest, South Crest.

Sources

• Framnes Mountains Satellite Image Map, Australian Antarctic Data Centre, retrieved 2023-11-18
• Alberts, Fred G., ed. (1995), Geographic Names of the Antarctic (PDF) (2 ed.), United States Board on Geographic Names, retrieved 2023-11-07  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Board on Geographic Names.
• Filson, Rex B. (1966), The Lichens and Mosses of Mac. Robertson Land (PDF), Antarctic Division, Department of External Affairs Australia, retrieved 2023-11-28
• "Masson Range", Gazetteer, Australian Antarctic Data Centre, retrieved 2023-12-02

Further reading

• Damien Gildea, Mountaineering in Antarctica: complete guide: Travel guide
• B. A. Marmo, J. Dawson, Movement and structural features observed in ice masses, Framnes Mountains, Mac.Robertson Land, East Antarctica, Annals of Glaciology, Volume 23 1996, pp. 388–395, Cambridge University Press, 20 January 2017, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500013689
• Mackintosh, Andrew & White, Duanne & Fink, David & Gore, Damian & Pickard, John & Fanning, Patricia. (2007), Exposure ages from mountain dipsticks in Mac. Robertson Land, East Antarctica, indicate little change in ice-sheet thickness since the Last Glacial Maximum, Geology. 35. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23503A.1.