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Clarence Island (South Shetland Islands) facts for kids

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Clarence Island
Clarence Island, Antarctica (6019401782).jpg
Clarence Island seen from the north, with Cape Lloyd and Jubilee Peak in the foreground
South Shetland Islands Map.png
Location of Clarence Island
Clarence Island is located in South Shetland Islands
Clarence Island
Clarence Island
Location in South Shetland Islands
Clarence Island is located in Antarctica
Clarence Island
Clarence Island
Location in Antarctica
Geography
Location Antarctica
Coordinates 61°12′S 054°05′W / 61.200°S 54.083°W / -61.200; -54.083
Archipelago South Shetland Islands
Length 21.46 km (13.335 mi)
Highest elevation 1,950 m (6,400 ft)
Highest point Mount Irving
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population 0

Clarence Island is the easternmost island in the South Shetland Islands, off the coast of Antarctica. It is claimed by Argentina as part of Argentine Antarctica, by Britain as part of the British Antarctic Territory, and by Chile as part of the Chilean Antarctic Territory. The name dates back to at least 1821 and is now established in international usage.

The island is 21.46 km (13.3 mi) long and oriented in a south-southwest to north-northeast direction. Ravelin Ridge and Urda Ridge occupy the interior of the mountainous island. The summit Mount Irving, 1,950 meters (6,398 ft) high, rises 6.675 km (4.148 mi) north of Cape Bowles, the southernmost point. The southeast slopes of the two ridges are drained by Dobrodan, Highton, Treskavets, Orcho, and Banari Glaciers, and their northwest slopes — by Skaplizo, Giridava, and Bersame Glaciers. There are two small islands just east of Clarence Island, the northern one is named Sugarloaf Island. Chinstrap Cove lies on the northwest coast of the island, while Istros Bay, Smith Cove, and Kutela Cove lie on its southeast side.

Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition observed and considered landing on Clarence Island after escaping the pack ice of the Weddell Sea but instead landed on nearby Elephant Island. The high point on Clarence Island was reached by members of the Joint Services Elephant Island Expedition in 1970, which also completed a survey of Elephant and Clarence Island.

Maps

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Isla Clarence (Antártida) para niños

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