Le Bicorne

Le Bicorne is a summit in the Rallier du Baty range on the Kerguelen Islands, rising to about 1,200 meters with two clearly defined peaks. These twin peaks stand above the Arago and Jean Brunhes glaciers, forming a distinctive silhouette against the subantarctic landscape.

The summit was first documented by Albert Bauer during a reconnaissance mission near Cook Glacier between 1961 and 1962. These explorations were part of French efforts to map and study the southern territories during that period.

The mountain takes its name from its two-pointed shape, which resembles the bicorn hat traditionally worn by students at the École Polytechnique. This naming reflects a French cultural connection that extends to how features in remote French territories are identified.

The summit is located on the Kerguelen Islands in one of the most remote places on Earth with extreme weather conditions and limited accessibility. Visitors should expect harsh conditions and need professional support, as the location is reachable only through specialized expeditions.

The summit forms a natural watershed between two major glaciers and shows the distinctive landforms created by subantarctic geology. This position makes it an important geographic feature for mapping and understanding the local glacial landscape.