California Plateau

California Plateau (86°4′S 145°10′W) is an undulating ice-covered plateau, 30 nautical miles (56 km) long and from 2 to 12 nautical miles (4 to 22 km) wide, which rises to 3,000 metres (10,000 ft) at the eastern side of Scott Glacier. The plateau reaches a maximum height of 3,275 metres (10,745 ft) in Mount Blackburn at the southern end. The northwestern side of the plateau is marked by the steep rock cliffs of Watson Escarpment; the southeastern side grades gradually to the elevation of the interior ice. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey from ground surveys and from U.S. Navy aerial photography, 1960–64, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for the several branches of the University of California which have sent numerous researchers to work in Antarctica.