Weddell Island
| Weddell Island | |
 Stone runs on Weddell Island | |
|---|---|
| Main settlement: | Weddell Settlement |
| Location | |
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| Location: | 51°52’43"S, 61°0’24"W |
| Area: | 102.6 square miles |
| Data | |
Weddell Island is the third largest of the Falkland Islands. Weddell Island is located to the west of West Falkland and is 102.6 square miles in area. The length of the coastline is 109 miles.[1] Until the late 19th century, Weddell Island was known as Swan Island, a name confusable with the Swan Islands on the other side of West Falkland.
History and population
The name Weddell Island comes from James Weddell, an English navigator and explorer who visited the Falklands in the early 19th century. He was well known for his voyages to the Antarctic, and the Weddell Sea and Weddell Seal are also named after him.
The small population of the island lives in Weddell Settlement on the east coast, the remainder of the island being run as a sheep farm.
Wildlife
Like many of the Falkland Islands, Weddell Island is known for its wildlife, including penguins, sealions and dolphins. Exotic wildlife, including skunks, rheas, parrots and guanacos were introduced in the 1930s, along with Patagonian foxes (not to be confused with the extinct warrah), which can still be found.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Weddell Island) |
References
- Stonehouse, B (ed.) Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans (2002, ISBN 0-471-98665-8)
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