The Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE) was an expedition from 1947–1948 which researched the area surrounding the head of the Weddell Sea in

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest cont ...

Background

Finn Ronne led the RARE which was the final privately sponsored expedition from the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

and explored and mapped the last unknown coastline on earth and determined that the Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea were not connected. The expedition included Isaac Schlossbach, as second in command, who was to have Cape Schlossbach named after him. The expedition, based out of Stonington Island was the first to take women to over-winter. Ronne's wife, Edith Ronne was correspondent for the North American Newspaper Alliance for expedition and the chief pilot Darlington took his wife.

Partial Listing of Discoveries

Mount Abrams Mount Abrams () is a mountain east of Mount Brice, in the Behrendt Mountains. It was discovered and photographed from the air by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE) of 1947–48 under Finn Ronne Finn Ronne (December 20, 1899 – J ...

- Named for

Talbert Abrams Talbert "Ted" Abrams (August 17, 1895, Tekonsha, Michigan – August 25, 1990) was an American photographer and aviator known as the "father of aerial photography". Early years Born in Tekonsha, Michigan, Abrams learned to fly at the Curti ...

, noted photogrammetric engineer *

Mount Becker Mount Becker () is a prominent mountain northeast of Mount Boyer, in the Merrick Mountains, Ellsworth Land. These mountains were discovered from the air and photographed by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE), 1947–48, under Finn ...

- Named for Ralph A. Becker, legal counsel who assisted in the formation of RARE * Mount Brundage - Named for Burr Brundage, U.S. Department of State, who assisted in making arrangements for the expedition *

English Coast English Coast is a portion of the coast of Antarctica between the northern tip of Rydberg Peninsula and the Buttress Nunataks, on the west side of Palmer Land. To the west is Bryan Coast, and northward runs Rymill Coast east of Alexander Isla ...

- Named for Capt. Robert A.J. English, USN, Executive Secretary of the USAS *

Sweeney Mountains The Sweeney Mountains () is a group of mountains of moderate height and about extent, located north of the Hauberg Mountains in Palmer Land, Antarctica. Discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE), 1947–48, under Finn Ronne, ...

- Named for Mrs. Edward C. Sweeney, a contributor to the expedition *

Behrendt Mountains The Behrendt Mountains () is a group of mountains, 32 km (20 mi) long, aligned in the form of a horseshoe with the opening to the southwest, standing 11 km (7 mi) SW of Merrick Mountains at the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. Discovered ...

- Named for John C. Behrendt, traverse seismologist at Ellsworth Station *

Merrick Mountains The Merrick Mountains () are a cluster of mountains, 13 km (8 mi) long, standing 11 km (7 mi) northeast of the Behrendt Mountains in Ellsworth Land, Antarctica. Discovered and photographed from the air by the Ronne Antarctic R ...

- Named for Conrad G. Merrick, USGS topographic engineer *

Gardner Inlet Gardner Inlet () is a large, ice-filled inlet at the southwest side of Bowman Peninsula, on the east coast of Palmer Land, Antarctica. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, 1947–48, under Finn Ronne Finn Ronne (December ...

- Named for Irvine Gardner, physicist at the National Bureau of Standards * Thuronyi Bluff - Named for Géza Thuronyi, an Antarctic scholar at the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...

Wetmore Glacier Wetmore Glacier is a glacier about 40 miles (64 km) long, flowing southeast between the Rare Range and Latady Mountains into the north part of Gardner Inlet. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE), 1947–48, ...

- Named for Alexander Wetmore, Secretary of the

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Irvine Glacier Irvine Glacier () is a glacier, long, draining southeast between the Guettard Range and the Rare Range into the northern part of Gardner Inlet, Antarctica. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE), 1947–48, under ...

- Named for George J. Irvine, of the Engineer Depot at Fort Belvoir, Virginia *

Quilty Nunataks Quilty Nunataks () is a group of nunataks (exposed ice-free ridges) which extend over 8 miles (13 km), located 15 miles (24 km) southwest of the Thomas Mountains in Palmer Land. Discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE ...

- Named for Patrick Quilty, geologist with the

University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...

Mount Coman Mount Coman () is a prominent isolated mountain which rises above the ice-covered plateau of Palmer Land, located just westward of the Playfair Mountains in Antarctica. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, 1947–48, under ...

- Named for Dr. F. Dana Coman, physician with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition * Haag Nunataks - Named for Joseph Haag, head of

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Ewing Island Ewing Island is an ice-covered, dome-shaped island in diameter, lying northeast of Cape Collier, off the east coast of Palmer Land. It was discovered from the air on November 7, 1947, by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE), under ...

- Named for Dr. Maurice Ewing,

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

, assisted in planning RARE *

Cape Adams Cape Adams is an abrupt rock scarp marking the south tip of Bowman Peninsula and forming the north side of the entrance to Gardner Inlet, on the east coast of Palmer Land in Antarctica. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (R ...

- Named for Lt. Charles J. Adams of the then USAAF, pilot with the expedition *

Bowman Peninsula Bowman Peninsula () is a peninsula, long in a north–south direction and wide in its northern and central portions, lying between Nantucket Inlet and Gardner Inlet on the east coast of Palmer Land. The peninsula is ice covered and narrows towar ...

- Named for Isaiah Bowman, American geographer. * Orville Coast - Named for Capt.

Howard T. Orville Howard Thomas Orville (June 16, 1901 – May 24, 1960) was an American naval officer and meteorologist. Naval career He was born in Saratoga, Wyoming, the son of William Orville and Lucy Dale (Wiant). After attending the Army and Navy Preparatory ...

, USN, Head of the Naval Aerological Service *

Ketchum Glacier Ketchum Glacier () is an eastward flowing glacier at the base of Palmer Land, Antarctica, about long, descending between the Latady Mountains and the Scaife Mountains into Gardner Inlet. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedit ...

- Named for Cdr. Gerald Ketchum, USN, commander of the ''Burton Island'' *

Mount Austin (Antarctica) Mount Austin () is a conspicuous rock mass rising to , projecting into the head of Gardner Inlet, on the east coast of Palmer Land, Antarctica. Discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE), 1947–48, under Ronne, and named by him f ...

- Named for Stephen F. Austin, American colonizer in

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* Mount Edward - Named for Cdr. Edward C. Sweeney, USNR, a contributor to the expedition *

Mount Owen (Antarctica) Mount Owen is a mountain on the eastern coast of Palmer Land on the Antarctic Peninsula. It stands 1,105 m in height, and was named by Ronne for Arthur Owen, a member of the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition The Ronne Antarctic Research Expedi ...

- Named for Arthur Owen, a member of the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition

References

External links

Expedition map
History of Antarctica United States and the Antarctic 1947 in the United States 1947 in Antarctica 1948 in Antarctica Antarctic expeditions Expeditions from the United States {{Antarctica-stub

Background

Partial Listing of Discoveries

See also

References

External links