South Shetland Islands
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The South Shetland Islands are a group of islands in the Antarctic Circle, lying about 120 kilometres north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Prior to 1961, the Islands were claimed by Argentina, Chile, and the United Kingdom (as part of the Falkland Islands Dependency). After the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, the Islands' sovereignty was frozen, and they are free to use by any signatory of the treaty for non-military use.
The Islands are still claimed by the original three nations: Argentina claims the Islands as part of Argentine Antarctica; Chile claims the Islands as part of Antártica Chilena Province; and the United Kingdom maintains a claim as part of the British Antarctic Territory.
Several countries maintain research stations on the Islands.
History
In 1818 Juan Pedro de Aguirre requested permission to the Argentine government to hunt in this archipelago, which he claimed to have already visited. Immediately after, he parted on board of the "Spiritu Santo". Upon arrival, his men settled a base on Deception Island.
British explorer William Smith arrived to the islands on 19 February, 1819, while cruising close to the northern edge of the islands, and claimed in the name of King George III, disembarking on the largest of the South Shetlands, King George Island by the same man on 16 October that year. The islands were already claimed by Argentina, and are currently also claimed by Chile.
The name "New South Britain" was used briefly, but was soon changed to South Shetland Islands. The name South Shetland Islands is now established international usage.
Seal hunting and whaling took place on the islands in the 19th and early 20th century, but the islands have only been occupied since the establishment of a scientific research station in 1944. A small amount of specialised tourism also takes place during summer.
Geography
As a group of islands, the South Shetland Islands are located at . They fall within the region 61° 00' - 63° 37' South, 53° 83' - 62° 83' West. The South Shetlands consist of 11 major islands and several minor ones, totalling 3687 square kilometres of land area. Between 80 and 90 percent of the land area is permanently glaciated. The highest point on the island chain is Mount Foster on Smith Island at 2105 metres above sea level.
The South Shetland Islands extend about 280 miles from Smith Island and Snow Island in the west-southwest to Elephant Island and Clarence Island in the east-northeast.
Islands
From north to south the named islands of the South Shetlands are (any islands in Russia have other names):
- Cornwallis Island (minor)
- Elephant Island (Mordvinova by Russia)
- Clarence Island (Shishkova by Russia)
- Rowett Island (minor)
- Gibbs Island
- King George Island (the largest, called May 25 island by Argentina, or Vaterloo by Russia)
- Bridgeman Island (minor)
- Penguin Island (minor - one of several Penguin Islands in the Antarctic region)
- Nelson Island (Leipzig by Russia)
- Robert Island (Polotsk by Russia)
- Greenwich Island (Berezina by Russia)
- Half Moon Island (minor)
- Livingston Island (Smolensk by Russia)
- Rugged Island (minor - one of several in the Antarctic region)
- Snow Island (one of several in the Antarctic region; Maly Yaroslavets by Russia)
- Smith Island (Borodino by Russia)
- Deception Island (Teylya by Russia)
- Low Island
- Seal Island
Research Stations
Several nations maintain research stations on the Islands:
- - Jubany (since 1953)
- - St. Kliment Ohridski (since 1988)
- - Comandante Ferraz Base
- - Presidente Eduardo Frei Base, Professor Julio Escudero Base, Arturo Prat Base (since 1947)
- - Pedro Vicente Maldonado Base
- - Juan Carlos I Base
- - King Sejong Station (since 1988)
- - Machu Picchu Research Station (since 1989)
- - Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station (since 1977)
- - Bellingshausen Station (since 1968)
Field Camps
See also
External links
- [Argentine Government Website with a map of the South Shetland Islands]
- [Bulgarian map of Livingston Island & Greenwich Island]
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