Thurston Island
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 72°6′S 99°0′W / 72.100°S 99.000°W |
| Area | 15,700 km2 (6,100 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 56th |
| Length | 215 km (133.6 mi) |
| Width | 90 km (56 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 750 m (2460 ft) |
| Administration | |
Thurston Island is an ice-covered, glacially dissected island, 215 km (134 mi) long, 90 km (56 mi) wide and 15,700 km2 (6,062 sq mi) in area, lying a short way off the NW end of Ellsworth Land, Antarctica. It is the third largest island of Antarctica, after Alexander Island and Berkner Island. The island is separated from the mainland by Peacock Sound, which is occupied by the western portion of Abbot Ice Shelf.[1]
The island was discovered from the air by Rear Admiral Byrd on February 27, 1940, who named it for W. Harris Thurston, New York textile manufacturer, designer of the windproof "Byrd Cloth" and sponsor of Antarctic expeditions.
Originally charted as a peninsula, the feature was not recognised an island until 1960.[1]
72°6′S 99°0′W / 72.100°S 99.000°W
See also
- Composite Antarctic Gazetteer
- List of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands
- List of Antarctic islands south of 60° S
- SCAR
- Territorial claims in Antarctica
References
- ^ a b "Antarctic Gazetteer: Thurston Island". Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
External links
This article incorporates public domain material from "Thurston Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
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