South Shetland Islands
From Freepedia
The South Shetland Islands or Iles Shetland du Sud or Islas Shetland del Sur or New South Britain or New South Shetland or Shetland Islands or South Shetlands or Sydshetland or Süd-Shetland Inseln are a chain of islands in the Southern Ocean lying about 120 kilometres northward of the Antarctic Peninsula. As a group of islands, the South Shetland Islands are located at 62°00′ S 058°00′ W. 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.
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.
From north to south the named islands of the South Shetlands are:
Image:South Shetland Islands Map.png
- Cornwallis Island (minor)
- Elephant Island
- Clarence Island
- Rowett Island (minor)
- Gibbs Island
- King George Island (the largest, called May 25 island by Argentina)
- Bridgeman Island (minor)
- Penguin Island (minor - one of several Penguin Islands in the Antarctic region)
- Nelson Island
- Robert Island
- Greenwich Island
- Halfmoon Island (minor)
- Livingston Island
- Rugged Island (minor - one of several in the Antarctic region)
- Snow Island (one of several in the Antarctic region)
- Smith Island
- Deception Island
- Low Island
- Seal Island
Aitcho Islands is a group of small islands lying in the N entrance to English Strait (between Robert and Greenwich islands, being part of South Shetland Islands.
Law system
Each base effectively administers law within its own bases and immeadiately surrounding areas. All the nations recognise the authority of the Antarctic treaty system.
See also
External links
- Argentine antarctic history (Spanish)
- Argentine Government Website with a map of the South Shetland Islands Apparently, the South Shetland Islands are considered as an integral part of the Tierra del Fuego Province, although they are located south of 60° southern latitude.
