What is Queen Mary's Peak?
Q: What is Queen Mary's Peak?
A: Queen Mary's Peak is the summit of the island of Tristan da Cunha, in the South Atlantic Ocean, and it is the highest point of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
Q: How tall is Queen Mary's Peak?
A: The top of Queen Mary's Peak is 2,062 metres (6,765 feet) above sea level.
Q: Why is it called Queen Mary's Peak?
A: Queen Mary's Peak is named after Mary of Teck, the Queen consort of King George V.
Q: What is the peak of Queen Mary's Summit?
A: The mountain is the peak of the large shield volcano which forms the island.
Q: What is the crater at the top of Queen Mary's Summit like?
A: The crater at the top of the Queen Mary's Summit is 300 metres (1,000 feet) wide, with a heart-shaped lake. This lake is normally frozen during the winter, and the upper slopes of the volcano are covered in snow.
Q: Has there been any historical eruption of Queen Mary's Peak?
A: Yes, there was one recorded historical eruption of Queen Mary's Peak, which occurred in 1961 from a small crater on the north shore of the island. The island community had to be evacuated.
Q: Was Queen Mary's Peak ever used as a navigational aid by sailors?
A: Yes, Queen Mary's Peak was used by sailors on the route from Europe to the Indian Ocean and beyond as a navigational aid. In the 17th century the East India Company instructed captains to sail via Tristan.
