|
SubAntarctic Islands
This islands lie near the Antarctic Convergence and are wet and windy. Mean annual temperatures at sea level is between freezing point and 3°C. They are seldom closed in by pack ice, but they have icecaps and glaciers that descend to sea level.
This wet, windy island lies near the Antarctic Convergence. The annual temperatures are between the freezing point and 3°C, so half of the island is ice-covered. The cost is seldom closed by pack ice, but there are icecaps and glaciers that descend to sea level. The vegetation consists mainly of grass, there are no woody plants. Numbers of elephant and fur seals breed ashore in summer.
This large island of 3750km2 was discovered by James Cook in 1775. Sir Ernest Shackleton crossed this mountainous islands first in 1916. The island is 2934m high at Mount Paget. In the 19th century, South Georgia was an important base for sealers, and was the largest Antarctic whaling centre between 1904 and 1966.
Until 1985, South Georgia and Falkland Islands were colony of the British Empire called Falkland Islands and Dependencies. In 1982 Argentina occupied the island for a short while during the Falkland war. Today the Island is part of the British South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands occupation. There live no more humans than scientist today.
With his area of 412km2, Heard Islands is the biggest of a group of islands in the South Indian Ocean. Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano, the 2í745m high Big Ben. The rest of the island is bleak and mountainous.
Like other subantarctic Islands, Heard Island is home of seals and birds. Elephant and leopard seals visit the islands, but also some penguins. Petrels, albatrosses and skuas breed on Heard Island. The difference between Heard Island and other subantarctic Islands is the vegetation. Heard Island is regarded as one of the last Antarctic habitats remaining free of introduced organisms, and is of considerable scientific interest. Vegetation is sparse, but cushion plants, tussock grass, mosses and lichens can survive. Only scientist visit the Islands occasional for research.
Heard Island was first sighted in 1833. Thirty years later, sealers arrived and started the hunting for elephant seals and penguins. The territory was transferred by Britain to Australian control in 1947. In 1947, a research station was established to conduct various scientific and meteorological investigations. This station closed in 1955 and since then there are only some visits of expeditions.
 |
Antarctic maritime islands |
Cold, temperate, extreme isothermal islands |
 |
Back to the top