Spaatz Island
| Spaatz Island | |
| |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Location: | 73°11’38"S, 75°6’48"W |
| Area: | 1,580 square miles |
| Data | |
| Population: | Uninhabited |
Spaatz Island is one of the most westerly named islands of the British Antarctic Territory, lying south-west of Alexander Island and west of the base of the Antarctic Peninsula, close to the coast of Palmer Land, 30 miles east of Smyley Island, the territory's westernmost. It a large ice-covered island; 50 miles long and 25 miles wide, covering an area of around 1,580 square miles.
The north side of the island forms a portion of the south margin of Ronne Entrance; the remainder of the island is surrounded by the ice shelves of Stange Sound and George VI Sound. Finn Ronne and Carl Eklund of the US Antarctic Service (1939–41) sledged along the north side of this feature in December 1940. It was photographed from the air and first mapped as an island by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (1947–48) under Finn Ronne and named by him for General Carl Spaatz, Chief of Staff of the United States Army Air Force, who gave assistance in providing an airplane for the expedition's use.
There is a British Antarctic Survey depot near the north coast of the island.
Outside links
References
- Gazetteer and Map of The British Antarctic Territory: Spaatz Island