East Antarctica, also called Greater Antarctica, is one of the two major regions of the Antarctic continent, lying on the Indian Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains and comprising Coats Land, Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land, Mac Robertson Land, Wilkes Land and Victoria Land. All but a small portion of this region lies within the Eastern Hemisphere, a fact that has suggested the name. The name has been in existence more than 90 years (Balch, 1902; Nordenskiöld, 1905), but its greatest use followed the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) and explorations disclosing that the Transantarctic Mountains provide a useful regional separation of East Antarctica and West Antarctica. The name was approved (in the US) by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in 1962. East Antarctica is generally higher than West Antarctica, and is considered the coldest place on Earth.
The three largest mountain ranges in Antarctica are the West Antarctica Ranges, the Transantarctic Mountains, and the East Antarctica Ranges. The subglacial Gamburtsev Mountain Range, about the size of the European Alps, in the center of East Antarctica are believed to have been the nucleation site for the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. The parts of East Antarctica not covered with ice constitute a tundra-type biodiversity region known as Maudlandia Antarctic desert, after Queen Maud Land.
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This article incorporates text from East Antarctica, in the Geographic Names Information System, operated by the United States Geological Survey, and therefore a public domain work of the United States Government. Coordinates: 80°S 80°E / 80°S 80°E
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