Pendulum Cove

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Pendulum Cove is a bay of Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands, part of the British Antarctic Territory. It indents the north-east shore of the island's major internal bay, Port Foster.

The cove was charted by Foster in 1829 and named by him from the pendulum station which he established there for gravity measurements.[1] The cove was recharted by the French Antarctic Expedition, 1908-10, in December 1908: on this survey the name 'Sobroan Harbour' was found on a board fixed to two uprights on the beach, presumably following the use of the cove as a whaling station in 1906-07.

Sailors of two South American nations had huts here for a time: an Argentine hut was established on 4 April 1949, but was later dismantled by them, probably in January 1950, though they returned in December 1953. A station, manned by Chilean Air Force personnel, was established on the cove in January 1955. The Chilean station was evacuated following the volcanic eruption at Deception Island, 4 December 1967, but was subsequently occupied seasonally until destroyed by a further eruption in February 1969.

The extent of the cove was reduced by these eruptions.

Outside links

References

Gazetteer and Map of The British Antarctic Territory: Pendulum Cove
  1. Kendall, chart, 1829b; 1831