Powell Island
| Powell Island | |
| Location | |
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| |
| Location: | 60°40’59"S, 45°1’59"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | Uninhabited |
Powell Island is a narrow island eight miles long and two and a half miles wide, lying between Coronation and Laurie Islands in the central part of the South Orkney Islands of the British Antarctic Territory. Its southern end lies four and a half miles east of the south-western extremity of Coronation Island, between the Lewthwaite Strait and Washington Strait.[1]
History
The island was discovered in the course of the joint cruise by Captains George Powell and Nathaniel Palmer in December 1821. It was correctly charted, though unnamed, on Powell's map published in 1822; it was subsequently named for Powell on an Admiralty chart of 1839.
Birds
An area including part of southern Powell Island (south of John Peaks), along with neighbouring Christoffersen, Fredriksen, Michelsen and Grey Islands, with some other (unnamed) islands lying offshore, has been identified as a 6642-acre 'Important Bird Area' by BirdLife International as it supports several significant seabird breeding colonies.[2] The boundary of the IBA is defined by the boundary of 'Southern Powell Island and adjacent islets Specially Protected Area' (ASPA 111).
References
- ↑ Gazetteer and Map of The British Antarctic Territory: Powell Island
- ↑ "Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)". Birdlife International. 25 January 2016. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitesearchresults.php?reg=1&cty=8&sn=&fc=&cri=&fam=0&gen=0&spc=&cmn=&hab=&thr=&bir=&iid=N&mar=N&aze=N. Retrieved 25 January 2016.