Harmony Cove Explained

Harmony Cove is a cove entered between Harmony Point and The Toe on the west side of Nelson Island, in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It was named by American sealers in about 1820 after the sealing vessel Harmony, under Captain Thomas Ray, one of several American sealing vessels headquartered at Harmony Cove during the 1820–21 season.

The northwest side of the cove is defined by Inca Point, an isolated stack off the point which is said to bear a striking resemblance to the head of an Inca. The name "Punta Inca" seems first to appear on a 1957 Argentine hydrographic chart. An English form of the name has been approved.

Francisco de Gurruchaga Refuge

Francisco de Gurruchaga Refuge
Settlement Type:Refuge
Mapsize:270px
Pushpin Map:Antarctic Peninsula
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Francisco de Gurruchaga in Antarctic Peninsula
Pushpin Mapsize:270
Pushpin Relief:yes
Coordinates:-62.3088°N -59.2068°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:
Subdivision Type1:Location in Antarctic Peninsula
Subdivision Name1:Cape Longing
Graham Land
Antarctica
Subdivision Type3:Administered by
Subdivision Name3:Argentine Army
Established Title:Established
Blank Name Sec1:Type
Blank Info Sec1:Seasonal
Blank Name Sec2:Status
Blank Info Sec2:Closed

Francisco de Gurruchaga Refuge (-62.3088°N -59.2068°W) is an Argentine naval refuge in Antarctica located on Inca Point in Harmony Cove of the Nelson Island in the South Shetland Islands. The refuge was inaugurated on December 15, 1954 and is managed by the Argentine Navy. At first it was named Refuge Harmony and used during the Argentine Antarctic campaigns of 1954-1955 and 1957–1958. It was named once as Gurruchaga Base, a temporary Antarctic base in the 1997-1998 campaign, then closed and re-used as a refuge.Its name pays homage to Francisco de Gurruchaga, who created the first Argentine naval squadron, patriot of the May Revolution, member of the Great Board of Buenos Aires and of the Assembly of the Year XIII for Salta Province. During its use as a base, a post office was opened using its own stamp.

The first chief of the base was the midshipman Raul Sotelo, and the Antarctic Task Force vessels that participated in the construction of the refuge were the ARA Chiriguano and the ARA Yámana tugs.

See also