region of Antarctica south of Africa, extending from Coats Land (west) to Enderby Land (east) and including the Princess Martha, Princess Astrid, Princess Ragnhild, Prince Harold, and Prince Olav coasts. A barren plateau covered by an ice sheet up to 1.5 miles (2.4 km) thick, it has a mountainous coastal area where rocky peaks, exceeding 11,800 feet (3,600 m) above sea level, pierce the ice cap.

The region was discovered by a Norwegian expedition in 1930, claimed by Norway in 1939, and declared a dependency of that nation in 1949. It was named for the Norwegian queen. Several countries have operated coastal research stations there.