Antarctic Mountains

Mountains seen from the IceBridge DC-8 during a survey of the Getz Ice Shelf on Oct. 27, 2012. Credit: NASA / Christy Hansen

The Transantarctic Mountains (abbreviated TAM) comprise a mountain range of uplifted sedimentary rock in Antarctica which extend, with some interruptions, across the continent from Cape Adare in northern Victoria Land to Coats Land. Also These mountains divide East Antarctica and West Antarctica. Therefore they include a number of separately named mountain groups, which are often again subdivided into smaller ranges.
The range was first sighted by James Clark Ross in 1841 at what was later named the Ross Ice Shelf in his honor. It was first crossed during the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904.