Pickersgill Islands
Encyclopedia
The Pickersgill Islands (54°37′S 36°45′W) are a small archipelago to the west of the main island of South Georgia
. They are 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Annenkov Island
and 9 miles (14.5 km) west-southwest of Leon Head
, South Georgia.
was discovered in January 1775 by a British expedition under Cook, who named it "Pickersgills Island" for Lieutenant Richard Pickersgill of the expedition ship HMS Resolution (1771). It was in 1819 by a Russian expedition under Bellingshausen
, who, thinking he was the discoverer of the island, named it Annenkov Island for Lieutenant Mikhail Annenkov, officer on the expedition ship.
The Pickersgill Islands, meanwhile were discovered in 1819 by a Russian expedition under Bellingshausen
, who charted the largest feature of the group as Pickersgill Island, erroneously thinking it to be the island
sighted in 1775 by Captain James Cook
and named for Lieutenant Richard Pickersgill of the expedition ship Resolution.
The name "Pickersgill" got transferred from Annenkov Island, to this archipelago 15 miles (24.1 km) to its southeast. The name Pickersgill Islands has been established by usage for this group of islands; the island originally named by Cook has been known as Annenkov Island since 1819.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands, known as the South Sandwich...
. They are 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Annenkov Island
Annenkov Island
Annenkov Island is to the west of the main island of South Georgia. The Pickersgill Islands are its south west. It is irregularly-shaped and long and high, lying off the south-central coast of South Georgia.-History:...
and 9 miles (14.5 km) west-southwest of Leon Head
Leon Head
Leon Head is a prominent rocky headland, 880 m, forming the south side of the mouth of Brogger Glacier and the southeast side of the entrance to Undine South Harbour, on the south coast of South Georgia. The headland was roughly charted in 1819 by a Russian expedition under Bellingshausen...
, South Georgia.
History of Name
Annenkov IslandAnnenkov Island
Annenkov Island is to the west of the main island of South Georgia. The Pickersgill Islands are its south west. It is irregularly-shaped and long and high, lying off the south-central coast of South Georgia.-History:...
was discovered in January 1775 by a British expedition under Cook, who named it "Pickersgills Island" for Lieutenant Richard Pickersgill of the expedition ship HMS Resolution (1771). It was in 1819 by a Russian expedition under 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, thinking he was the discoverer of the island, named it Annenkov Island for Lieutenant Mikhail Annenkov, officer on the expedition ship.
The Pickersgill Islands, meanwhile were discovered in 1819 by a Russian expedition under 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 charted the largest feature of the group as Pickersgill Island, erroneously thinking it to be the island
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...
sighted in 1775 by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
and named for Lieutenant Richard Pickersgill of the expedition ship Resolution.
The name "Pickersgill" got transferred from Annenkov Island, to this archipelago 15 miles (24.1 km) to its southeast. The name Pickersgill Islands has been established by usage for this group of islands; the island originally named by Cook has been known as Annenkov Island since 1819.
See also
- List of sub-Antarctic islands
- List of Antarctic islands north of 60° S