Clarence Island (South Shetland Islands)

Clarence Island

Location of Clarence Island

Location of Clarence Island
Geography
Location Antarctica
Coordinates 61°12′S 054°05′W / 61.200°S 54.083°WCoordinates: 61°12′S 054°05′W / 61.200°S 54.083°W
Archipelago South Shetland Islands
Length 21.46 km (13.335 mi)
Highest elevation 1,950 m (6,400 ft)
Highest point Mount Irving
Country
None
Demographics
Population 0
Additional information
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Clarence Island seen from north, with Cape Lloyd and Jubilee Peak in the foreground.

Clarence Island is 21.46 km (13.3 mi) long in south-southwest to north-northeast direction and the easternmost of the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. The name dates back to at least 1821 and is now established in international usage. Ernest Shackleton saw Clarence Island on his famous boat voyage but landed on Elephant Island. It is claimed by Argentina as part of Argentine Antarctica, by Britain as part of the British Antarctic Territory, and by Chile as part of the Chilean Antarctic Territory.

Ravelin Ridge and Urda Ridge occupy the interior of the mountainous island. The summit Mount Irving, 1,950 meters (6,398 ft) high,[1][2] rises 6.675 km (4.148 mi) north of Cape Bowles, the southernmost point. The southeast slopes of the two ridges are drained by Dobrodan, Highton, Treskavets, Orcho and Banari Glaciers, and their northwest slopes — by Skaplizo, Giridava and Bersame Glaciers. There are two small islands just east of Clarence Island, the northern one is named Sugarloaf Island. Chinstrap Cove lies on the northwest coast of the island, while Istros Bay, Smith Cove and Kutela Cove lie on its southeast side.

See also

Notes

  1. South Shetland Islands: Elephant, Clarence and Gibbs Islands. Scale 1:220000 topographic map. UK Antarctic Place-names Committee, 2009.
  2. Mount Irving. British Antarctic Territory Gazetteer. UK-APC.

References