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Compton Glacier
Heard Island and McDonald Islands on the globe (Antarctica centered).svg
Location of Heard Island and McDonald Islands on the globe
Type cirque / tidewater
Location Heard Island
Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Australia
Coordinates 53°3′S 73°37′E / 53.050°S 73.617°E / -53.050; 73.617
Length 3 nautical miles (6 km)
Thickness 55 meters
Terminus Compton Lagoon, between Gilchrist Beach and Fairchild Beach
Status Retreating

Compton Glacier is a glacier, 3 nautical miles (6 km) long, flowing northeast from the lower slopes of the Big Ben massif to the northeast side of Heard Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Its terminus is located at Compton Lagoon, between Gilchrist Beach and Fairchild Beach. To the northwest of Compton Glacier is Ealey Glacier, whose terminus is located close southeast of Cape Bidlingmaier. To the southeast of Compton Glacier is Brown Glacier, whose terminus is located at Brown Lagoon. Round Hill separates Compton Glacier from Brown Glacier.

Discovery and naming

The lower reaches of this glacier were charted and named Morgan's Iceberg on an 1860 sketch map compiled by Captain H.C. Chester, American sealer operating in the area during this period. The feature was surveyed in 1948 by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions, who applied the name Compton Glacier for G.S. Compton, assistant surveyor with the expedition.

  • Click here to see a map of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, including all major topographical features

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Compton Glacier" (content from the Geographic Names Information System).

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Glaciar Compton para niños

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