World's Largest Canyon Spotted Beneath Antarctic Ice Sheet!

Today, 76 years ago, is the historic day that George W. Gibbs, Jr, set foot on the West Antarctic Ice Shelf, making him the first man in the world of his race to do so.  I woke up wondering what I would write to commemorate the day.  Only to see this new discovery in the news,  just announced on 1/14/16 in the Australian press.

“Our analysis provides the first evidence that a huge canyon and a possible lake are present beneath the ice in Princess Elizabeth Land,” (East Antarctica) Dr Jamieson said.

“It’s astonishing to think that such large features could have avoided detection for so long."

Read more here and here 

"The results of this analysis, published recently in the journal Geology, reveal a chain of winding features over 600 miles long and half a mile deep buried beneath miles of ice." This discovery will be confirmed later in 2016, trumps the latest finding in 2013 of Greenland's Grand Canyon.  Due to satellite sophistication, "the age of discovery is far from over."

The canyon is over twice the size of the USA's Grand Canyon.  Hello Mother Earth!

Antartica is on our minds and hearts!

I found out yesterday that Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group is touring Antarctica.  More great footsteps to follow!  He's blogging everyday.  His Antarctic log 7 :Antarctica is closer than you think" is something to think about.  More people every day are realizing climate change is important to understand.  This has been a busy week.  I made presentations to 55 seventh graders at Fitzsimmons Middle School, who fired great questions at me for 20 minutes.  Yesterday,  a local home school group gathered for my presentation.  Students of all ages (3 to 9) were very engaged for an hour!  I brought some my clothing for the trip.

Here's some of the girls and their parents from the WWA Home School Connection Fine Arts and Enrichment Program saying, "We are All Antarctica!"

My Travel to Chile

Part of my research about the United States Antarctic Service Expedition (1939–1941) takes me to Valparaiso, Chile.  The USS Bear stopped at several port cities on the way back to the U.S., in 1940.  Today, while meeting with a colleague, we found an entry in my father's journal that talks about his adventures in Chile. I realized I'll be able to visit the area to see O'Higgins Hotel, in Vina Del Mar, built in 1936!  Admiral Byrd stayed there.  Here's another journal excerpt from George W. Gibbs Jr.,

April 23(1940) At Valparaiso Chile.  Was up this morning early to get the ship in shape for visitors and do my daily routine.  This morning at eleven we were anchored off from the dock about two hundred feet and I went ashore in a taxi.  Bought a watch and went to Vina Del Mar, which is eight miles from Valparaiso.  Went sight seeing and had dinner at the Hotel Higgins where the Admiral is staying.  In the U.S. it would have been impossible for me to be as welcomed (as I felt there).

A little history from Rochester, MN where my parents settled

My father loved Rochester, MN. He at one time considered running for mayor. We called him 'Ambassador' of the city! My parents arrived during the civil rights time frame. My mother, Joyce Gibbs is on PBS OFF 90, sharing some history in Rochester.

Today in 1940 Gibbs set foot on Antarctica!

From George W. Gibbs, Jr's journal January 14, 1940
"Jan. 14 Anchored this morning in the Bay of Whales at the South Pole and digging holes in the ice with picks and shovels. This was the only way of tying the ship up along the ice. There aren’t any docks at all, was I surprised?? When the Bear came up to the ice close enough for me to get ashore, I was the first man aboard the ship to set foot in Little America and help tie her lines deep into the snow. I met Admiral Byrd; he shook my hand and welcomed me to Little America and for being the first Negro to set foot in Little America."