Ross Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Map of Ross Island |
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 77°40′S 168°00′E / 77.667°S 168°ECoordinates: 77°40′S 168°00′E / 77.667°S 168°E |
| Area | 2,460 km2 (950 sq mi) |
| Highest point | Erebus (3,794 m (12,448 ft)) |
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Antarctica
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| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Ross Island is an island formed by four volcanoes in the Ross Sea near the continent of Antarctica, off the coast of Victoria Land in McMurdo Sound. Because of the persistent presence of the ice sheet, the island is sometimes taken to be part of Antarctica. Its area is 2,460 km² (950 sq mi); only a small portion of the island is free of ice and snow. Sir James Clark Ross discovered it in 1841, and it was later named in honour of him by Robert F. Scott. The planet's southernmost active volcano, Erebus (3794 m), as well as the dormant volcano Terror (3230 m), are situated on the island. They were named by Ross after his ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The third highest elevation is Mount Bird, with Shell Glacier and Endeavour Piedmont Glacier on its slopes. Abbott Peak stands between Mount Erebus and Mount Bird.
Despite its relatively small size, Ross Island is the world's 6th highest island.
Ross Island was the base for many of the early expeditions to Antarctica. It was and still is the southernmost island reachable by sea. Huts built by Scott's and Shackleton's expeditions are still standing on the island, preserved as historical sites.
Ross Island lies within the boundaries of Ross Dependency, which is claimed by New Zealand.
Today Ross Island is home to New Zealand's Scott Base, and the largest Antarctic settlement, the U.S. Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station. Greenpeace established World Park Base on the island and it ran for five years, from 1987 to 1992.
Ross Island supports a colony of approximately half a million Adélie Penguins.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- LeMasurier, W. E.; Thomson, J. W. (eds.) (1990). Volcanoes of the Antarctic Plate and Southern Oceans. American Geophysical Union. pp. 512 pp. ISBN 0-87590-172-7.
[edit] External links
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