Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1939, Page 76
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LE NORD
features of this region. By reason of the inland ice which for long
stretches goes out into the sea and forms the boundary of the con-
tinent, the coastline is not sharply defined with bays and pro-
montories. Therefore the different “lands” into which the coast
is now, provisionally at any rate, divided, have been given con-
ventionel limits according to fixed meridians.
The whole region between Coats Land in the west and
Enderby Land in the east has been comprised under the name —
‘Dronning Maud Land.’ That again has been given the following
subdivisions:
1. Kronprinsesse Martha Land, from about iy° West to 50
East, discovered February i8th, 1929, by the second “Norvegia”
expedition led by Captain Hj. Riiser-Larsen. He took his boat
right in to the ice barrier, at 710 26' S., 11° 31' W. Accompanied
by Captain F. Liitzow-Holm he made the same day an expedition
by aeroplane, first south from Cape Norvegia into Selbukta,
and then eastward along the coast to about 8° 30' West. On the
i9th of Feb. he continued the voyage by ship westwards to 140
58' West, and on the following day, Feb. 20th, made a further
aerial reconnaissance. After 75 minutes’ flight a birdseye view
had been obtained over the coastline westwards to Coats Land
and back again towards Selbukta in the east.
2. Prinsesse Astrid Land, from long. 50 to 20° East. On Feb.
6th, 1937, Director Braavold on the factory ship “Thorsham-
mer” sent the following telegraphic report to the owner, Consul
Lars Christensen: ‘Position today, 69° 39' South; 8° 28' East.
Took soundings with echo-machine — 2180 metres. Land visible
some 60 n. miles to the south. Possibly a large island since the
land slopes gently off to pack ice at both ends.’ When the photo-
graphs taken had been examined carefully in Norway, it was
found that Mr. Braavold must have over-rated the distance; and
in the 1937-edition of the Norwegian Charts the editor, Captain
H. E. Hansen had the coast-line traced 10—12 n. miles South of
“Thorshammer’s” position. Even with this correction the coast is
here some 70 n. miles further south than was believed according
to previous messages from whalers. Re the eastern part of Princess
Astrid Land there are reports giving the course of the coast from
Captain H. H. Halvorsen of the factory ship “Sevilla”, from ob-
servations in March—April 1931.
3. Prinsesse Ragnhild Land, from long. 200 East to about
long. 340 East. This stretch was seen during 5—14 Feb. 1931