Mountains
in the Antarctic interior are few and far between. Many are
a special kind of mountain called a "nunatak". The
Trans Antarctic Mountains that stretch from one side of the
continent to the other break through the ice cap in places
to form such nunataks - they are mountains that are
surrounded completely by an ice field. A sort of cold
version of the ocean and islands except that these are on
land and raised high above sea level.
Due to their isolation and sterile
surroundings, many nunataks are little or never visited,
though there are records of some Antarctic birds such as
snow petrels nesting on nunataks over a hundred kilometres
from the coast where they feed. Why they do so is unknown, maybe
they just like the scenery.
Paul
Ward - Pentax equipment, 35mm film, K64.
This picture may not be copied or used in any manner without
prior written permission.
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