Arthur Harbour
Arthur Harbour is a small harbour on the south-west coast of Anvers island in the Palmer Archipelago of the British Antarctic Territory. The water is entered between Bonaparte Point and Amsler Island.
History
Arthur Harbour was roughly charted by the French Antarctic Expedition (1903–1905) under Jean-Baptiste Charcot. The harbour was first entered by Norsel for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, on 28 February 1955, when the station called "Base N" or "Anvers Island" was established near the head of the harbour. The water was charted by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey in 1955 and named after Sir (Oswald) Raynor Arthur (1905-73), Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies, 1954-57.
The Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey station was closed down on 10 January 1958. In February 1964 a party from an American ship, the USCGC Eastwind erected a temporary hut on the eastern side of the harbour, and later in the year "Palmer Station" was built and inaugurated on 12 January 1965, with the British station converted to the biological laboratory of this station. The former British station was destroyed by fire, 28 December 1971.
Station N
Arthur Harbour was the location of the British research Station N, which was active from 28 February 1955 to 10 January 1958. The Station was loaned to the United States government on 2 July 1963. In January 1965, it was converted into a biological laboratory for use by American personnel from nearby Palmer Station. Station N was destroyed by fire on 28 December 1971, while under renovation by the British Antarctic Survey. The debris was removed in 1991, and only concrete foundations now remain.
Geography
A number of features in and around Arthur Harbour were named and charted by various Antarctic surveys and expedition groups.
Prior to 2005, Norsel Point was considered the northern headland of Arthur Harbour, but is now considered a part of Amsler Island, just off the coast. Bonaparte Point, named by Charcot for Roland-Napoléon Bonaparte, marks the southern edge of Arthur Harbour. In addition to Amsler Island, Humble Island, Litchfield Island, Torgersen Island, and Dietrich Island all lie off the coast of Arthur Harbour.
Important Bird Area
Some 529 acres of land and sea in northern Arthur Harbour, a mile north-west of Palmer Station, was listed as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International until being delisted in 2015. The site comprised Norsel Point, Humble Island, Breaker Island, Elephant Rocks and Torgersen Island, along with the intervening marine zone. Some of the islands have been designated Restricted Zones within Antarctic Specially Managed Area ASMA 7 ('Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin'). The site was listed as an Important Bird Area because it supports colonies of breeding seabirds, including Adélie penguins (11,500 pairs), macaroni penguins, southern giant petrels and imperial shags. Litchfield Island remains listed as an Important Bird Area.
Location
- Location map:64°46’12"S, 64°3’50"W
References
- Gazetteer and Map of The British Antarctic Territory: Arthur Harbour
- Litchfield Island IBA: BirdLife International