Beardmore Glacier

Aerial view of the Beardmore Glacier in 1956.

The Beardmore Glacier in Antarctica is one of the largest glaciers in the world, with a length exceeding 160 km (100 mi). The glacier is one of the main passages from the Ross Ice Shelf through the Queen Alexandra and Commonwealth ranges of the Transantarctic Mountains to the Antarctic Plateau, and was one of the early routes to the South Pole.

The glacier was discovered by Ernest Shackleton during his Nimrod Antarctic expedition of 1908. Although Shackleton turned back before reaching the South Pole, he had discovered the first proven route to the pole, and in doing so, became the first person to set foot upon the great polar plateau. In 1911-1912, Captain Scott and his team successfully reached the South Pole by climbing the Beardmore. However, they reached the pole a month after Roald Amundsen and his team, who had climbed the previously unknown Axel Heiberg Glacier.

Beardmore Glacier is named after Sir William Beardmore, a Scottish industrialist and expedition sponsor born in 1856.

The Best of British - South Pole plan to ascend the Beardmore Glacier on their way to the South Pole in November 2010. They have a target of 21 days to cover the 480 miles to beat the record currently held by the Norwegians of 24 days 8 hours 50 minutes.

See also

• List of glaciers in the Antarctic

References

• USGS GNIS: Beardmore Glacier
• The Best of British - South Pole

Coordinates: 83°45′S 171°00′E / 83.75°S 171°E / -83.75; 171