The Allan Hills are group of hills, mainly ice free and about 12 nautical miles (22 km) long, lying just north-west of the Coombs Hills near the heads of Mawson Glacier and Mackay Glacier in Oates Land and Victoria Land, Antarctica. They were mapped by the New Zealand party (1957–58) of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition and named for Professor R.S. Allan of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
Numerous meteorites have been discovered in these hills, which lie at the end of the Transantarctic Mountains. Amongst them is the meteorite Allan Hills 84001 which is said to originate from Mars. It has been claimed this meteorite contains evidence of Martian life in the form of micro-organisms.
Famous quotes containing the words allan and/or hills:
“How much more intense is the excitement wrought in the feelings of a crowd by the contemplation of human agony, than that brought about by the most appalling spectacles of inanimate matter.”
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)
“Fretted shadow on stumps
A vanishing husk
Of light . . . grey lumps
Of stone verge the hills with fears.
It is quickly dusk.”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)