Mawson Peak

Mawson Peak
Mawson Peak, Heard Island.
Satellite image of the southern tip of Heard Island. Cape Arkona is seen on the left side of the image, with Lied Glacier just above and Gotley Glacier just below. Big Ben Volcano and Mawson Peak are seen at the lower right side of the image.
Highest point
Elevation2,745 m (9,006 ft)[1]
Prominence2,745 m (9,006 ft)
ListingCountry high point
Coordinates53°6′00″S 73°31′00″E / 53.10000°S 73.51667°E / -53.10000; 73.51667
Geography
Mawson Peak is located in Indian Ocean
Mawson Peak
Mawson Peak
Location of Heard Island
LocationHeard Island, Australia
Parent rangeBig Ben
Topo mapRAN Heard Island 291
Geology
Mountain typeVolcanic cone
Last eruption2012 to 2018 [2]

Mawson Peak is an active volcanic summit of the Big Ben massif on Heard Island, an external Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.

With an elevation of 2,745 metres (9,006 ft), it is the third highest peak in any state, territory or claimed territory of Australia,[3] higher than the 2,228-metre (7,310 ft) Mount Kosciuszko, and surpassed only by the 3,490-metre (11,450 ft) Mount McClintock and the 3,355-metre (11,007 ft) Mount Menzies in the Australian Antarctic Territory.[4] The Australian Antarctic Territory is a territorial claim unrecognised by most other countries,[5] meaning that Mawson Peak is the highest mountain over which Australia has true sovereignty. The peak erupts fairly frequently,[6] and as recently as May 2023.[7] Mawson Peak is ranked the 30th of Earth's most topographically isolated summits.

  1. ^ "Mawson Peak, Heard Island". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 16 March 2009.
  2. ^ "Heard Island". 25 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Highest mountains on external territories". Australian Government – Geoscience Australia. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mawson Peak
  5. ^ "Antarctic Region". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Scientists witness 'amazing' eruption of volcano on sub-Antarctic island". ABC News. February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. ^ Readfearn G. Australian volcano near Antarctica captured on satellite spewing lava. The Guardian, 30 May 2023