GEOGRAPHIC NAMES OF ANTARCTICA 



generic plus definite article that is not readily 

 understood, e.g., "Rund Bay" and "Trilling Peaks" 

 for "Rundvika" and "Trillingnutane"; addition of 

 an English generic to the foreign name so that the 

 Anglicized form will agree basically with the 

 original name, particularly with names containing 

 frequently used specific terms of a numerical or 

 locational nature, e.g., "Tvistein Pillars" and "Vor- 

 posten Peak" for "Tvistein" and "Vorposten"; 

 acceptance, in rare instances, of well established 

 translated forms, e.g., "Ice Bay," that has become 

 established for the feature originally named 

 "Isfjorden." 



The definitive descriptions of the decisions on 

 Antarctic names include reference to the actual 

 naming and the attendant circumstances when 

 known, to clarify as far as practicable the basis for 

 approval. When the record is not explicit on the 

 facts of naming but the attendant circumstances 

 and association of names indicate a strong pre- 

 sumption as to the identity of the person for whom 

 a name is given, the feature has been described as 

 "probably named for [such person]." 



The approval of surnames only, instead of full 

 names, involved the question of naming for male 

 relatives and friends on the basis of relationship 

 or friendship and the commemoration of feminine 

 relatives or friends because custom and usage for- 

 bade commemoration of the explorers themselves. 

 It was felt that orderly and appropriate geographic 

 nomenclature for Antarctica would be achieved 

 best by naming for persons who qualify under the 

 policy. 



The Board on Geographic Names has essen- 

 tially accomplished the bringing of order into the 

 geographic names of Antarctica up to the present. 

 A basis has been established upon which new geo- 

 graphic nomenclature can be added, name by 

 name, as exploration and survey proceed. This 

 does not mean that every problem encountered has 

 been solved. A few named features do not exist in 



the positions where they were thought to be. 

 Some of these have been identified nevertheless 

 and the error satisfactorily explained; others are 

 still riddles that may never be solved. A great 

 many positions assigned to features are correct in 

 relation to nearby or associated features but un- 

 doubtedly off in latitude and longitude. Most of 

 these may some day be tied in to control points, 

 of which there are relatively few so far. As more 

 are established it will be possible to make much 

 more use of the pictures, sketches, maps and 

 charts that are already in hand. 



Photography is a valuable aid to identification 

 of features to be named. Photographs may show 

 many things other than the intended subject, and 

 pictures of people or nearby objects have often 

 furnished the necessary clues to the identity of 

 distant features in the background. A few dark 

 objects in a featureless white foreground and 

 middle distance can be of great value, as can be a 

 complete circle panorama from an identifiable 

 spot, or the selection of a feature identifiable on 

 aerial photographs as the site for an astronomical 

 fix. 



In view of the publication of the extensive 

 Antarctic Bibliography by the Department of the 

 Navy in February 1951, the selected bibliography 

 included in the Special Publication No. 86 has 

 been omitted. 



While great care has been taken to focus on each 

 name all the pertinent information that could be 

 found, it is highly probable that the present pub- 

 lication will bring forth additional data not now 

 available. In the light of new evidence it may 

 appear desirable to modify, as to description and 

 perhaps as to name, some of the decisions listed 

 herein. It is hoped that users of this present 

 gazetteer who have pertinent information that 

 appears not to have been considered will make it 

 available for the record. 



Statement of Policy Covering Geographic Names 



A. Introduction 



These policies are for the guidance of the Board 

 in deciding cases and should be helpful to ex- 

 plorers and others in proposing names for natural 

 features in Antarctica. 



The problem of geographic nomenclature in 

 Antarctica is unlike that of any other area of com- 

 parable size. Antarctica has no permanent settle- 

 ments and even in the stations continuously occu- 



pied for a number of years the personnel is gener- 

 ally rotated. There are undoubtedly many fea- 

 tures that have never been seen by man, and even 

 in the explored portions of the continent many of 

 the features are unnamed. Antarctica has been 

 visited and explored by the nationals of many na- 

 tions, who, by their heroic efforts to broaden man's 

 knowledge of this land of ice and snow, have fully 

 demonstrated the international nature of the world 

 of science. Names, therefore, will be considered 



