Queen Maud Mountains
Mountain Major Antarctic mountain range bordering the Ross Ice Shelf
The Queen Maud Mountains form a major Antarctic range bordering the Ross Ice Shelf; the area is frequented by scientific teams and historically noted polar routes rather than mass tourism.
The Queen Maud Mountains are a major mountain group in Antarctica forming part of the Transantarctic Mountains, bordering the head of the Ross Ice Shelf. They contain numerous glaciers and high peaks that were important landmarks during early polar exploration.
Roald Amundsen named the range for Queen Maud of Norway during his successful 1911 expedition to the South Pole. The mountains have since been a focus of geological and glaciological research during scientific Antarctic campaigns.
The range lies in the Ross Dependency sector of Antarctica, south of the Ross Sea and adjacent to large outlet glaciers that drain the polar plateau toward the Ross Ice Shelf. Access is typically by ice-cap aircraft or overland scientific traverse.
- Naming and discovery: Named by Roald Amundsen for Queen Maud of Norway during his 1911 South Pole expedition, the range forms part of the Transantarctic Mountains bordering the Ross Ice Shelf region.
How to Get to Queen Maud Mountains #
The Queen Maud Mountains are in the interior of Antarctica (Ross Dependency) and have no public transport or roads. They are reached only as part of organized Antarctic field operations or guided expeditions - typically by ski-equipped aircraft or helicopter staged from a logistics hub such as McMurdo Station, or as part of an over-ice traverse from coastal bases/ships in the Ross Sea. All travel requires Antarctic logistics support, permits and seasonal planning.
Tips for Visiting Queen Maud Mountains #
- Plan for the Antarctic summer (austral November-February) - that's when sea/air access is possible and weather windows are longest.
- You cannot reach the Queen Maud Mountains independently; book well in advance with a specialist Antarctic operator or a scientific/logistics program that offers fly-in or Ross‑Sea expedition itineraries.
- Treat the area as remote polar wilderness: there is no visitor infrastructure, landings are tightly regulated by environmental/permit rules, and operators will brief you on strict waste, wildlife and safety protocols - follow them exactly.
Best Time to Visit Queen Maud Mountains #
If visiting is possible at all, it's during the austral summer (Nov-Feb) when daylight and expedition access make travel feasible.
Weather & Climate near Queen Maud Mountains #
Queen Maud Mountains's climate is classified as Ice Cap - Ice Cap climate with freezing summers (peaking in December) and freezing winters (coldest in August). Temperatures range from -48°C to -15°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is freezing with highs of -15°C and lows of -21°C. The driest month with just 0 mm.
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February
February is freezing with highs of -22°C and lows of -28°C. Almost no rain.
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March
March is freezing with highs of -31°C and lows of -38°C. Almost no rain.
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April
April is freezing with highs of -36°C and lows of -43°C. Almost no rain.
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May
May is freezing with highs of -37°C and lows of -44°C. Almost no rain.
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June
June is freezing with highs of -36°C and lows of -44°C. Almost no rain.
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July
July is freezing with highs of -39°C and lows of -46°C. Almost no rain.
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August
August is the coldest month with highs of -40°C and lows of -48°C. Light rainfall.
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September
September is freezing with highs of -38°C and lows of -45°C. The driest month with just 0 mm.
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October
October is freezing with highs of -31°C and lows of -39°C. The driest month with just 0 mm.
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November
November is freezing with highs of -22°C and lows of -28°C. The driest month with just 0 mm.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -15°C and lows of -21°C. The driest month with just 0 mm.
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