Alexander Island
Encyclopedia
Alexander Island or Alexander I Island or Alexander I Land or Alexander Land is the largest island
of Antarctica, with an area of 18946 sq mi (49,070 km²) lying in the Bellingshausen Sea
west of the base of the Antarctic Peninsula
, from which it is separated by Marguerite Bay
and George VI Sound
. Alexander Island lies off the coast of Antarctica and is linked to it by the George VI Ice Shelf
. The island partly surrounds Wilkins Sound
, which lies to its west. Alexander Island is about 240 miles (386.2 km) long in a north-south direction, 50 miles (80.5 km) wide in the north, and 150 miles (241.4 km) wide in the south. Features of the island include the Sofia University Mountains
and Lake Hodgson.
n expedition under Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
, who named it Alexander I Land for the reigning Tsar
Alexander I of Russia
, but it was believed to be part of the Antarctic mainland until 1940. Its insular nature was proven in December 1940, by a sledge party under Finn Ronne
of the United States Antarctic Service. In the 1950s, a British
base administered as part of the British Antarctic Territory
was constructed as Fossil Bluff
(Base KG).
The island is now used as a meteorological
centre and refuelling base. It is claimed by the United Kingdom
, for which it represents their largest remaining overseas island, part of the British Antarctic Territory
, while for Chile
and Argentina
it is part of the Antártica Chilena Province
and Tierra del Fuego Province
respectively.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Antarctica, with an area of 18946 sq mi (49,070 km²) lying in the Bellingshausen Sea
Bellingshausen Sea
The Bellingshausen Sea is an area along the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, west of Alexander Island, east of Cape Flying Fish on Thurston Island, and south of Peter I Island . In the south are, from west to east, Eights Coast, Bryan Coast and English Coast of West Antarctica...
west of the base of the Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica. It extends from a line between Cape Adams and a point on the mainland south of Eklund Islands....
, from which it is separated by Marguerite Bay
Marguerite Bay
Marguerite Bay or Margaret Bay is an extensive bay on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, which is bounded on the north by Adelaide Island and on the south by Wordie Ice Shelf, George VI Sound and Alexander Island. The mainland coast on the Antarctic Peninsula is Fallières Coast. Islands...
and George VI Sound
George VI Sound
George VI Sound or Canal Jorge VI or Canal Presidente Sarmiento or Canal Seaver or King George VI Sound or King George the Sixth Sound is a major bay/fault depression, 300 miles long in the shape of the letter J, which skirts the east and south shores of Alexander Island, separating it from the...
. Alexander Island lies off the coast of Antarctica and is linked to it by the George VI Ice Shelf
George VI Ice Shelf
The George VI Ice Shelf is an extensive ice shelf that occupies George VI Sound between Alexander Island and Palmer Land in Antarctica. The ice shelf extends from Ronne Entrance, at the southwest end of the sound, to Niznik Island, about south of the north entrance between Cape Brown and Cape...
. The island partly surrounds Wilkins Sound
Wilkins Sound
Wilkins Sound is a seaway in Antarctica that is largely occupied by the Wilkins Ice Shelf. It is located on the southwest side of the Antarctic Peninsula between the concave western coastline of Alexander Island and the shores of Charcot Island and Latady Island farther to the west.Its northern...
, which lies to its west. Alexander Island is about 240 miles (386.2 km) long in a north-south direction, 50 miles (80.5 km) wide in the north, and 150 miles (241.4 km) wide in the south. Features of the island include the Sofia University Mountains
Sofia University Mountains
Sofia University Mountains are a cluster of three small mountains, 14 km long in the north-south direction and 5.5 km wide, rising to 1500 m in north-western Alexander Island.They are located south-southeast of Havre Mountains, southwest of Rouen Mountains, northwest of Elgar Uplands, east...
and Lake Hodgson.
History
Alexander Island was discovered on January 28, 1821 by a RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n expedition under Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen was an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, cartographer and explorer, who ultimately rose to the rank of Admiral...
, who named it Alexander I Land for the reigning Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
, but it was believed to be part of the Antarctic mainland until 1940. Its insular nature was proven in December 1940, by a sledge party under Finn Ronne
Finn Ronne
Finn Ronne was a U.S. Antarctic explorer.-Background:Finn Ronne was born in Horten, in Vestfold county, Norway. His father, Martin Rønne , was a polar explorer and served in Roald Amundsen's successful expedition to the South Pole...
of the United States Antarctic Service. In the 1950s, a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
base administered as part of the British Antarctic Territory
British Antarctic Territory
The British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes and , forming a wedge shape that extends to the South Pole...
was constructed as Fossil Bluff
Fossil Bluff
Fossil Bluff is a British Antarctic Survey forward operating station. The bluff is a collection of buildings and facilities, at the centre of which lies the hut....
(Base KG).
The island is now used as a meteorological
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
centre and refuelling base. It is claimed by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, for which it represents their largest remaining overseas island, part of the British Antarctic Territory
British Antarctic Territory
The British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes and , forming a wedge shape that extends to the South Pole...
, while for Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
it is part of the Antártica Chilena Province
Antártica Chilena Province
Antártica Chilena Province is the southernmost and one of four provinces in Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region . The capital is Puerto Williams...
and Tierra del Fuego Province
Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)
Tierra del Fuego is an Argentine province entirely separated from mainland Argentina by the Strait of Magellan. It includes:* The eastern part of the Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego archipelago and the Staten Island.* Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands and to...
respectively.
See also
- British Antarctic TerritoryBritish Antarctic TerritoryThe British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes and , forming a wedge shape that extends to the South Pole...
- Chilean Antarctic TerritoryAntárticaThe Chilean Antarctic Territory is the territory in Antarctica claimed by Chile. The Chilean Antarctic Territory ranges from 53°W to 90°W and from the South Pole to 60°S, partially overlapping Argentine and British Antarctic claims...
- Composite Antarctic Gazetteer
- List of Antarctic islands south of 60° S
- List of Bulgarian toponyms in Antarctica
- SCARScarScars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound results in...
- Territorial claims in Antarctica