Christensen Nunatak

Christensen Nunatak is counted amongst the Seal Nunataks, where the Oscar II Coast and Nordenskjöld Coast meet, on the east side of Graham Land in the British Antarctic Territory.

This peak risies to about a thousand feet on the north-east side of Robertson Island. It was discovered by Larsen on 11 December 1893, when it was incorrectly described both as an active volcano and as an island separated from Robertson Island: Larson named this apparent island 'Christensen Island' after Christen Christensen (1845-1923), of Sandefjord, Norway, pioneer of modern Antarctic whaling and owner of Larsen's expedition ship the Jason (from which the Jason Peninsula is named). In 1894, Bruce recorded that 'in about 65 S and 58 W, he [Larsen] discovered two active volcanoes which he has named Jason and Sarsee [now Larsen Nunatak]'. The feature was surveyed by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition in October 1902 and reported as a mountain on Robertson Island.

Following resurvey by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey from 'Hope Bay' in August 1947, the feature was renamed 'Christensen Nunatak'. Following further survey in 1953 and 1955, the nunatak was mapped as separated from Robertson Island. An Argentine field station, 'Capitán Campbell', was established at the nunatak on 30 November 1961 for a flight to the South Pole on 6 January 1962, and evacuated on 21 January 1962. Air photography by the United States Navy in 1968 confirmed that the nunatak is not part of Robertson Island.

Location

• Location map: 65°5’40"S, 59°32’41"W

References

• Gazetteer and Map of The British Antarctic Territory: Christensen Nunatak