Transantarctic Mountain Range

NASA’s DC-8, on its way to the nearest point to the South Pole during the mission, flew over the Transantarctic Mountain Range on Oct. 25, 2009. Credit: Rose Dominguez/UC Santa Cruz

The Transantarctic Mountains (abbreviated TAM) comprise a mountain range of uplifted sedimentary rock in Antarctica which extend. Therefore with some interruptions, across the continent from Cape Adare in northern Victoria Land to Coats Land. These mountains divide East Antarctica and West Antarctica. 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