{{short description|River in Antarctica}} {{Infobox river | name = Alph River <!---------------------- IMAGE--> | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | image_alt = <!---------------------- MAPS --> | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = Antarctica | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Alph River | pushpin_map_alt = <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = continent | subdivision_name1 = Antarctica | subdivision_type2 = region | subdivision_name2 = Victoria Land | length = | mouth = | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|78|12|S|163|45|E|name=Alph River|display=it}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = | waterbodies = }} '''Alph River''' ({{coord|-78.2|163.75|name=Alph River}}) is a small river, flowing in summertime, on the northern side of Koettlitz Glacier, Scott Coast, Antarctica. It rises from Koettlitz ice at the upper end of Pyramid Trough and from south to north includes Pyramid Ponds, Trough Lake, Walcott Lake, Howchin Lake, and Alph Lake.{{sfn|Alph River USGS}} The Alph ends in a subglacial stream beneath Koettlitz Glacier to McMurdo Sound.{{sfn|De Mora |Whitehead |Gregory|1991}} {{TOC limit|2}}

==Exploration and name== The portion north of Pyramid Trough was explored and named in February 1911 by the British Antarctic Expedition (BrAE) Western Journey Party led by Thomas Griffith Taylor. He reported that the stream continues north a considerable distance under moraine and ultimately subglacially beneath Koettlitz Glacier to the Ross Sea. This led to the name from a passage in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem Kubla Khan: "Where Alph the sacred river ran, Through caverns measureless to man, Down to a sunless sea."{{sfn|Alph River USGS}} The nearby Xanadu Hills are named from the same poem.{{sfn|Xanadu Hills USGS}}

==Features== {{geogroup}} ===Pyramid Ponds=== {{coord|-78.2833333|163.45}} A group of ponds lying south of Trough Lake in Pyramid Trough on Scott Coast. Named by New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) (1994) in association with Pyramid Trough and The Pyramid.{{sfn|Pyramid Ponds USGS}}

===Trough Lake=== {{redirect|Trough Lake|the geographical term|Trough lake}} {{coord|-78.28333|163.46667}}. A permanently ice-covered pro-glacial lake in the Pyramid Trough. Descriptively named in association with Pyramid Trough.{{sfn|Trough Lake AADC}}

===Walcott Lake=== {{coord|-78.2333333|163.4666667}}. One of several lakes in the Alph River system, this one located 1.3 miles east of the snout of Walcott Glacier on Scott Coast. Named by NZGB (1994) in association with Walcott Glacier.{{sfn|Walcott Lake USGS}}

===Walcott South Stream=== {{coord|-78.25|163.3833333}}. A meltwater stream from the southern part of the snout of Walcott Glacier. It flows eastward to Walcott Lake on Scott Coast. Named by NZGB (1994) in association with Walcott Glacier.{{sfn|Walcott South Stream USGS}}

===Walcott North Stream=== {{coord|-78.2333333|163.3833333}}. A meltwater stream from the northern part of the snout of Walcott Glacier. It flows eastward to Walcott Lake on Scott Coast. Named by NZGB (1994) in association with Walcott Glacier.{{sfn|Walcott North Stream USGS}}

===Howchin Lake=== {{coord|-78.2166667|163.5166667}}. A lake, one of several in the Alph River system, located {{convert|1.1|nmi}} southeast of the snout of Howchin Glacier in Denton Hills. Named by NZGB (1994) in association with Howchin Glacier.{{sfn|Howchin Lake USGS}}

===Alph Lake=== {{coord|-78.20000|163.70000}}. Lake at the foot of Ward Valley on the north-west side of Koettlitz Glacier. It is {{convert|0.4|nmi}} long, and surrounded by steep morainic walls. Named by Griffth Taylor of the BrAE, 1911–13 (Capt. Robert Scott) in association with Alph River.{{sfn|Alph Lake AADC}}

==See also== *Onyx River *List of rivers of Antarctica

==References== {{Reflist|25em}} *{{usgs-gazetteer|id=17052}}

==Sources== {{refbegin}} *{{citation |url=https://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/display_name.cfm?gaz_id=121732 |accessdate=2024-02-24 |title=Alph Lake |publisher=AADC: Australian Antarctic Data Centre |ref={{harvid|Alph Lake AADC}} }} *{{cite gnis2 |type=antarid |id=17052 |name=Alph River}} *{{citation |journal=Antarctic Science |year=1991 |volume=3 |pages=73–86 |doi=10.1017/S0954102091000111 |first1=S.J. |last1=De Mora |first2=R.F. |last2=Whitehead |first3=M. |last3=Gregory |title=Aqueous geochemistry of major constituents in the Alph River and tributaries in Walcott Bay, Victoria Land, Antarctica}} *{{cite gnis2 |type=antarid |id=17231 |name=Howchin Lake}} *{{cite gnis2 |type=antarid |id=17260 |name=Pyramid Ponds}} *{{citation |url=https://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/display_name.cfm?gaz_id=114595 |accessdate=2024-02-24 |title=Trough Lake |publisher=AADC: Australian Antarctic Data Centre |ref={{harvid|Trough Lake AADC}} }} *{{cite gnis2 |type=antarid |id=17289 |name=Walcott Lake}} *{{cite gnis2 |type=antarid |id=17290 |name=Walcott North Stream}} *{{cite gnis2 |type=antarid |id=17291 |name=Walcott South Stream}} *{{cite gnis2 |type=antarid |id=17309 |name=Xanadu Hills}} {{sfn whitelist|CITEREFAlph_River_USGS|CITEREFXanadu_Hills_USGS|CITEREFPyramid_Ponds_USGS|CITEREFWalcott_Lake_USGS|CITEREFWalcott_South_Stream_USGS|CITEREFWalcott_North_Stream_USGS|CITEREFHowchin_Lake_USGS}} {{refend}} {{Include-USGov |agency=United States Geological Survey}} Category:Rivers of Victoria Land Category:Scott Coast