Edmonson Point

Edmonson Point is a rounded, largely ice-free point lying below Mount Melbourne along the west side of Wood Bay, Victoria Land, Antarctica. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey from surveys and from US Navy air photographs, 1955–63, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Larry Edmonson, a satellite geodesy scientist at McMurdo Station, winter party 1966.[1]

Antarctic Specially Protected Area

The point has been designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 165) because of its terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The volcanic lithology and substrates are nutrient-enriched by colonies of Adélie penguins and south polar skuas. The site contains a diverse range of freshwater habitats supporting algae, cyanobacteria and bryophytes. Terrestrial vegetation includes epilithic lichen and moss communities. Invertebrates are abundant. Weddell seals breed on the adjacent sea ice.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Edmonson Point". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  2. ↑ "Edmonson Point, Wood Bay, Ross Sea" (PDF). Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 165: Measure 1, Annex F. Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 2006. Retrieved 2013-09-21.

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

Coordinates: 74°20′S 165°8′E / 74.333°S 165.133°E / -74.333; 165.133


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, November 21, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.