Petrel Island (Antarctica)

Petrel Island (French: Île des Pétrels) 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.

Petrel Island
Dumont d'Urville Station on Petrel Island
Petrel Island is located in Antarctica
Petrel Island
Petrel Island
Location in Antarctica
Geography
LocationAntarctica
Coordinates66°40′S 140°1′E / 66.667°S 140.017°E / -66.667; 140.017
ArchipelagoGéologie Archipelago
Major islandsPetrel Island, Gouverneur Island, Alexis Carel Island, Jean Rostand Island
Area0.33 km2 (0.13 sq mi)
Length900 m (3000 ft)
Highest elevation44 m (144 ft)
Highest pointLa Cave
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population30
Pop. density90/km2 (230/sq mi)

Features

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Historic sites

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the ATCM (2012)" (PDF). Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2014.

  This article incorporates public domain material from "Petrel Island (Antarctica)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.