Mount Darwin (Andes)

Mount Darwin

Bahía Pía
Highest point
Elevation 2,438 m (7,999 ft)
Coordinates 54°45′S 69°29′W / 54.750°S 69.483°W / -54.750; -69.483Coordinates: 54°45′S 69°29′W / 54.750°S 69.483°W / -54.750; -69.483
Geography
Mount Darwin

Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Parent range Andes
Climbing
First ascent 1970 by M. Andrews, N. Banks, M. Taylor, P. Radcliffe, P. James, N. Bennett and R. Heffernan[1]

Mount Darwin (Spanish: Monte Darwin) is a peak in Tierra del Fuego forming part of the Cordillera Darwin, the southernmost range of the Andes, just to the north of the Beagle Channel. It is formed of crystalline schists and has massive glaciers down its steep southern slopes. Monte Darwin was for a long time considered as the highest peak in Tierra del Fuego, but that distinction corresponds to a mountain unofficially named Monte Shipton,[2] which is about 2,580 m (8,460 ft) high and is located at 54°39′33″S 69°35′54″W / 54.65917°S 69.59833°W / -54.65917; -69.59833.[3] Both peaks are best climbed in late December, January, February and March. Monte Shipton was first climbed in 1962 by Eric Shipton, E. Garcia, F. Vivanco and C. Marangunic.[2]

Mount Darwin was given its name during the voyage of the Beagle by HMS Beagle's captain Robert FitzRoy to celebrate Charles Darwin's 25th birthday on 12 February 1834. A year earlier FitzRoy had named an expanse of water to the southwest of the mountain the Darwin Sound to commemorate Darwin's quick wit and courage in saving them from being marooned when waves from a mass of ice splitting off a glacier threatened their boats.

The mountain is part of Alberto de Agostini National Park.

References

  1. ↑ Michael Andrews (1974). "Cordillera Darwin, Tierra del Fuego, 1970-1" (PDF). American Alpine Journal. American Alpine Club: 202. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  2. 1 2 John Shipton (2004). "Monte Shipton or Monte Darwin?" (PDF). Alpine Journal. London: Alpine Club: 132–142. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Argentina and Chile Southern, Ultra-Prominences". 2011-03-19. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
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