Vestfold Hills - History and Naming

History and Naming

The Vestfold Hills were discovered and a landing was made in the northern portion on February 20, 1935, by Capt. Klarius Mikkelsen together with his wife and seven crew members (including the ship's dentist, Lief Sørsdal) of the Norwegian whaling ship "Thorshavn" sent out by Lars Christensen. Mrs Caroline Mikkelsen thereby became the first woman to set foot on the Antarctic continent.

The Vestfold Hills are named after Vestfold, a county in Norway where Sandefjord, headquarters of the whaling industry, is located. This hill area and its off-lying islands were mapped from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition (1936-37). Further brief landings were made by Lincoln Ellsworth and several claims made by Hubert Wilkins in 1939. and the area was photographed from the air by USN Operation Highjump (1946-47). Landings were made and exploration carried out in 1954 and 1955 by ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) led by Phillip Law. Davis Station was established by ANARE in January 1957.

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