Palmer Archipelago
The Palmer Archipelago is a group of islands within the British Antarctic Territory lying off the northwestern coast of Graham Land.
The group extends from Tower Island in the north to Anvers Island in the south. It is separated form the continent and its neighbours by the Gerlache and Bismarck straits.[1]
Palmer Archipelago is located at 64°15’0"S, 62°49’59"W.
History
Adrien de Gerlache, leader of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897–1899), discovered the archipelago during 1898. He named it Archipelago Palmer for Captain Nathaniel Palmer, who had navigated these waters during 1820, and after whom Palmer Land is named.[1] The Belgian exploration is the reason that a number of the islands bear the names of Belgian provinces.
The United Kingdom has operated research stations amongst these islands.
Islands
The archipelago includes, among others:
- Anvers Island: the largest of the group
- Brabant Island
- Buff Island
- Hoseason Island
- Liege Island
- Walsham Rocks
- Wiencke Island
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Palmer Archipelago: Antarctica". Geographic.org. http://geographic.org/geographic_names/antname.php?uni=11299&fid=antgeo_117. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- Gazetteer and Map of the BAT and SGSSI: Palmer Archipelago