Beaver Island, Falkland Islands

Beaver Island
Location
Beaver Island
Beaver Island shown within the Falkland Islands.
Coordinates:	51°50′20″S 61°16′40″W
Names
English name:	Beaver Island
Spanish name:	Isla San Rafael
Meaning of names:	English: from Beaver, a whaling ship
Area and Summit
Area:	48.56 km2
Highest elevation:
Population
Population (2001):
References:
If shown, area and population ranks are for all islands and all inhabited islands in the Falklands respectively.

Beaver Island (Spanish: Isla San Rafael) is one of the Beaver Island group of Falkland Islands. It lies west of Weddell Island and south of New Island and has an area of 4,856 hectares (12,000 acres; 18.75 sq mi).

Other islands in the group include Staats Island, with an area of 500 hectares (1,200 acres; 1.9 sq mi); Tea Island, which covers 310 hectares (770 acres; 1.2 sq mi); Governor Island, which covers 220 hectares (540 acres; 0.85 sq mi); Split Island, with an area of 70 hectares (170 acres; 0.27 sq mi) and a few smaller islands. Though the smaller islands in the group are low-lying, the larger islands are very hilly, with many peaks of more than 150 metres (490 ft) and some more than 200 metres (660 ft). The highest elevation in the Beaver Island Group is 234 metres (768 ft).

History and population

Beaver Island was named after the whaling vessel "Beaver" which was recorded as being the first whaling ship to double Cape Horn.

Beaver Settlement lies on the island, with an airstrip nearby. It is owned by Sally and Jerome Poncet.

In October 2003, the wreckage of a missing French yacht was found on the island by their son, Leif Poncet.

Wildlife

Wildlife on the island includes Gentoo Penguins, South American Gray Foxes (introduced, not to be confused with the Falkland Islands Wolf), Peregrine Falcons, Southern and Striated Caracaras, Guanacos, fur seals, and many seabirds. Beds of kelp can be found offshore.

References

• Stonehouse, B (ed.) Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans (2002, ISBN 0 471 9866 58)