Mertz and Ninnis Glaciers

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In November 1912, during the Australian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914, Douglas Mawson lead two companions, Xavier Mertz and Belgrade Ninnis, together with a team of dogs, on an ill-fated mapping journey into the Antarctic wilderness, far from the expedition’s base camp in Commonwealth Bay.

Disaster struck on 14 December 1912, when one of the sledges fell down a crevasse, taking with it half of the husky team, most of the food, and Ninnis. They were never seen again. Forced to eat the remaining dogs on their attempt to return to camp, Mertz died on 8 February 1913 through either starvation or vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A) from the dogs’ liver. Only Mertz survived the ordeal, returning to camp one month later.

Today, the impressive Mertz Glacier and Ninnis Glacier offer a striking memorial to these explorers.

Both glaciers extend substantially across the sea from King George V Land in eastern Antarctica. The Mertz Glacier is in the state of advance, while the Ninnis Glacier tongue is believed to be retreating.

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