Petrel Island (Antarctica) Explained

Petrel Island
Map:Antarctica
Location:Antarctica
Coordinates:-66.6667°N 141°W
Archipelago:Géologie Archipelago
Major Islands:Petrel Island, Gouverneur Island, Alexis Carel Island, Jean Rostand Island
Area Km2:0.33
Length M:900
Highest Mount:La Cave
Elevation M:44
Population:30
Density Km2:90
Country:None
Treaty System:Antarctic Treaty System

Petrel Island (French: Île des Pétrels|link=no) is a rocky island, 900 m long and 45 m in elevation, which lies north-west of Rostand Island and is the largest feature in the cluster of islands at the south-eastern end of Géologie Archipelago. It was photographed from the air by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, 1946–47, charted by the French Antarctic Expedition, 1949–51, and so named by them because numerous snow petrel nests present. In January 1952, following destruction of the Port Martin base by fire, the French Antarctic Expedition under Marret, 1952–53, enlarged the hut on Petrel Island to serve as the new base site. The island is now the site of Dumont d'Urville Station.

Features

Historic sites

The wooden building known as ‘Base Marret’, where seven men under Marret's command overwintered in 1952 following the fire at Port Martin, has been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 47), following a proposal by France to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. The iron cross on the north-east headland of the island is dedicated as a memorial to André Prudhomme, head meteorologist on the third International Geophysical Year expedition, who disappeared during a blizzard on 7 January 1959; it has similarly been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 48).[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the ATCM (2012) . 2 January 2014 . Antarctic Treaty Secretariat . 2012.