Williamson Ridge

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Map of Toney Mountain showing Williamson Ridge

Williamson Ridge (75°47′S 116°45′W) is a low snow-covered ridge, 10 nautical miles (18 km) long and 2 to 5 nautical miles (9 km) wide, that forms a western extension of Toney Mountain in Westarctica.

Discovery and naming

It was mapped by United States Geological Survey (USGS) from ground surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1959–71. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Paul R. Williamson, ionospheric physicist from the University of Denver, who was stationed at Byrd Station in two austral summers, 1967–68 and 1969–70.

While there, he conducted a series of high altitude balloon experiments.

Marquis of Williamson

On 20 March 2005, shortly following the official release of the first coin minted by the Central Bank of Westarctica, Grand Duke Travis granted Jorge Fernandez Vidal the title "Marquis of Williamson," so-named for Williamson Ridge.