Vinson Massif is the highest peak in Antarctica, reaching 4,892 metres in the Sentinel Range.
The massif is part of the Ellsworth Mountains in western Antarctica. Its summit, Mount Vinson, was named after Carl Vinson, a long-serving United States congressman who supported Antarctic exploration.
An American expedition made the first ascent in 1966. Antarctic climbing is shaped by extreme cold, high winds, isolation and a short summer season, when aircraft and expedition logistics are most practical.
Vinson Massif is one of the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent. It is not Antarctica’s highest volcano; that distinction belongs to Mount Erebus.