Yankee Harbour

Yankee Harbour is a sheltered bay on the coast of Greenwich Island, one of the South Shetland Islands in the British Antarctic Territory. It lies between Glacier Bluff and Spit Point, forming the inner part of the bay east of Triangle Point.

The bay was probably first entered and roughly charted by Palmer, between 18-20 November 1820. It was first called 'Port Williams', possibly after the brig Williams (which gives a name to Williams Point), but also named 'Yanky Harbor' in association with Captain E. Fanning's American sealing fleet from Stonington, Connecticut, which was based there in the 1820-21 season. The bay was also called 'Hospital Cove' by British sealers. The Swedish Antarctic Expedition in 1911 called the bay 'Kraterhafen' from its roughly circular shape.

Extract from Powell's chart of 1822 (Yankee Harbour as 'Hospital Cove')

The harbour was recharted by Discovery Investigations, 1934-35, when astronomical observations were obtained. The harbour was further charted by Chilean Antarctic Expediation in January 1953, on which occasion a refuge hut was established on the south side of the bay.

Flora and fauna

As well as mosses, lichens and algae, the flowering plants Antarctic hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) occur. The site has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports a breeding colony of about 5000 pairs of gentoo penguins. Skuas, Wilson's storm petrels and snowy sheathbills are also thought to nest there.

Southern elephant seals, Weddell seals and Antarctic fur seals regularly haul out on the beaches.

Location

• Location map: 62°31’33"S, 59°46’7"W

References

• Gazetteer and Map of The British Antarctic Territory: Yankee Harbour