Lake Chapman (Antarctica) Explained

Lake Chapman
Location:Antarctica
Coordinates:-77.0167°N 162.3833°W
Etymology:Ann Chapman
Basin Countries:(Antarctica)
Pushpin Map:Antarctica
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of Lake Chapman
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Lake Chapman in Antarctica

Lake Chapman is a small lake located on The Flatiron, at Granite Harbour within the Ross Dependency of Antarctica. It was first visited by members of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott's Western Party in 1911 and was one of the "pretty little tarns" observed by Griffith Taylor who was Senior Geologist to the expedition.[1] Indeed, Tryggve Gran, another member of the Western Party, even used the lake for a swim to "celebrate Midsummer Day".[2] More recently, it has been a site of active research undertaken by the University of Waikato as part of a larger terrestrial biodiversity research programme supported by the New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute (NZARI) and Antarctica New Zealand (AntNZ).

Naming

Lake Chapman is named in honour of Ann Chapman, one of the first women scientists to visit the Ross Sea Region and the first woman to lead a scientific expedition in the Antarctic. Chapman led a team of scientists from the University of Waikato working on Antarctic lakes from 1970 to 1971, and was a founding member of the University of Waikato Antarctic Research Programme and the New Zealand Limnological Society (now the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society).

Notes and References

  1. Book: Scott. Capt. R.F.. Scott's Last Expedition Volume 2. 1913. Macmillan and Co.. London. 199.
  2. Book: Scott. Capt. R.F.. Scott's Last Expedition Volume 2. 1913. Macmillan and Co.. London. 199.