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Wesley E. LeMasurier is an igneous petrologist/volcanologist who specializes in the study of Cenozoic volcanoes in the Marie Byrd Land region of Antarctica. He was responsible for geological research around many of Westarctica's volcanic mountains. Mount LeMasurier was named in his honor.

Dr. LeMasurier's work includes studying the origin and evolution of Cenozoic volcanic rocks, the nature of the tectonic environment of volcanism, and the volcanic record of glacial history. In 1990, after conducting a survey of Mount Berlin, he declared the volcano to be "potentially active." Later, in 1994, during field work around Mount Siple, Dr. LeMasurier knocked off a piece of rock from the mountain and sent it to Ruth Siple, the widow of Paul A. Siple, for whom the mountain was named.

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Space treaty signing

• 12 Oct - Operation: POLE DANCE is successfully completed in support of MicroCon 2027.
• 12 Oct - Westarctica signs the Micronation Space Cooperation Treaty.
• 4 Sep - Prince Owen, Duke of MacAyeal, is appointed as a Senator of Westarctica.
• 15 Aug - Grand Duke Travis loses to JayJay Robles in the Gleason's International Masters Boxing Tournament.
• 11 Aug - Christopher Watson is appointed Foreign Minister.
• 11 Aug - The Senate of Westarctica vetoes the appointment of the Count of Dorchuck as Foreign Minister.
• 8 Aug - Royal Decree RD-2005-002 expands the areas protected under the Westarctican Parks Service.
• 23 Jul - The Jain affair sends shockwaves through the Foreign Office.

This month in history Richard E. Byrd with penguins 05 October - Official Holidays in Westarctica become codified by law. (2020) 13 October - Admiral George J. Dufek successfully lands a plane at the South Pole. (1956) 13 October - Dutch researchers determine the Weddell Sea to have the clearest water of any sea on earth. (1986) 14 October - Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson dies. (1958) 19 October - The Westarctican Royal Guards are created. (2017) 19 October - Westarctica receives 501c(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. (2018) 21 October - Peter I Island was first sighted by Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. (1821) 21 - 25 October - Delegations from Westarctica and Molossia join the Kingdom of Shiloh for the Summit Upon the Seas. (2018) 25 October - Polar explorer and U.S. Navy officer, Rear Admiral Richard Byrd (pictured) is born. (1888) 25 October - In recognition of his part in ending the Siple War, Grand Duke Niels of Flandrensis is given the title Prince of Siple. (2012) 26 October - The Norwegian polar exploration vessel Fram is launched. (1892) 26 October - The Westarctica-Raphania War begins. (2022) 27 October - A story on Westarctica is published in Conde Nast Traveler. (2016) 29 October - A search party sets out to look for Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition. (1912) 29 October - New Zealand renames "Chinstrap Islet" to Chinstrap Island. (2015) 29 October - The Realm of Calsahara becomes a Colony of Westarctica after being liberated by the Westarctican Royal Guards. (2017) 30 October - Consul-General Travis writes the Claimant Letter declaring his intention to establish the Achaean Territory of Antarctica in Marie Byrd Land. (2001)

Featured image The king penguin is a large species of penguin, second only to the emperor penguin in size. King penguins eat small fish, mainly lanternfish, and squid. They are less reliant on krill and other crustaceans than most Southern Ocean predators. On foraging trips king penguins repeatedly dive to over 100 meters (300 ft), and have been recorded at depths greater than 300 meters (1,000 ft). King penguins breed on the subantarctic islands at the northern reaches of Antarctica, South Georgia, and other temperate islands of the region. King penguins do not live or breed in Westarctica. Photographer: Liam Quinn from Canada (More Images)

Featured Quote “I've always been attracted to the idea of statehood, and this is an opportunity to question a lot of things people accept as normal about national identity.” - Grand Marshal Carolyn Yagjian

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