East Antarctica
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East Antarctica, also called Greater Antarctica, is one of the two major regions of Antarctica, lying on the Indian Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains and comprising Coats Land, Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land, Mac. Robertson Land, Wilkes Land and Victoria Land. All but a small portion of this region lies within the Eastern Hemisphere, a fact that has suggested the name. The name has been in existence more than 90 years (Balch, 1902; Nordenskjold, 1905), but its greatest use followed the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) and explorations disclosing that the Transantarctic Mountains provide a useful regional separation of East Antarctica and West Antarctica. The name was approved by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in 1962.
The parts of East Antarctica not covered with ice constitute a tundra-type biodiversity region known as Maudlandia Antarctic desert (after the Queen Maud Land).
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- This article is based on a United States Geological Survey gazetteer.
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