Franklin Island (Antarctica)

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For the Greenlandic island, see Franklin Island

Franklin Island ( 76°5′S, 168°19′E) is an island 7 miles long, lying in the Ross Sea about 80 miles east of Cape Hickey, Victoria Land. It was discovered on January 27, 1841 by James Ross, and named for Sir John Franklin, the noted Arctic explorer, who as Governor of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) had royally entertained the expedition on its way south at Hobart in 1840.

Bernacchi Head ( 76°8′S, 168°20′E) is a precipitous cliff forming the south extremity of Franklin Island. It was named "Cape Bernacchi" by the British Antarctic Expedition (1898-1900) for Louis C. Bernacchi, a member of the expedition. The generic has been changed to "Head" by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) to avoid duplication with Cape Bernacchi on the coast of Victoria Land.

The Franklin Shoals ( 76°0′S, 169°0′E) are shoals close to Franklin Island.

The island is colonized by a large group of brooding Adelie Penguins.

This article is based on a United States Geological Survey gazetteer.
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