Powell Island

Powell Island
Geography
Location Antarctica
Coordinates 60°40′59″S 45°01′59″W / 60.683°S 45.033°W
Archipelago South Orkney Islands
Length 13 km (8.1 mi)
Width 4 km (2.5 mi)
Country
Demographics
Population 0
Additional information
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System

Powell Island is a narrow island 13 km (8.1 mi) long and 4 km (2.5 mi) wide, lying between Coronation and Laurie Islands in the central part of the South Orkney Islands of Antarctica. Its southern end lies 7 km east of the south-western extremity of Coronation Island, between Lewthwaite Strait and Washington Strait.[1]

History

The island was discovered in the course of the joint cruise by Captains George Powell and Nathaniel Palmer in December 1821. It was correctly charted, though unnamed, on Powell's map published in 1822; it was subsequently named for Powell on an Admiralty chart of 1839.

Birds

An area including part of southern Powell Island (south of John Peaks), along with neighbouring Christoffersen, Fredriksen, Michelsen and Grey Islands, with some other (unnamed) islands lying offshore, has been identified as a 2688 ha Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports several significant seabird breeding colonies. The boundary of the IBA is defined by the boundary of Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 111.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Southern Powell Island and adjacent islands". BirdLife data zone: Important Bird Areas. BirdLife International. 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-19.
  2. "Southern Powell Island and adjacent islands, South Orkney Islands". Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 111: Measure 1, Annex B. Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 1995. Retrieved 2013-09-28.

Coordinates: 60°40′59″S 45°01′59″W / 60.683°S 45.033°W