Powell Island

Powell Island

South Orkney Islands
Geography
Location Antarctica
Coordinates 60°40′59″S 45°01′59″W / 60.683°S 45.033°W / -60.683; -45.033
Archipelago South Orkney Islands
Length 13 km (8.1 mi)
Width 4 km (2.5 mi)
Administration
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 as it supports several significant seabird breeding colonies.[2] The boundary of the IBA is defined by the boundary of Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 111.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "SCAR Gazetteer: Powell Island". Australian Antarctic Data Centre. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)". Birdlife International. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Southern Powell Island and Adjacent Islands, South Orkney Islands" (PDF). Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 111: Measure 1, Annex B. Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 1995. Retrieved 28 September 2013.

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

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