Smith Island (South Shetland Islands)

Smith Island

Topographic map of Livingston Island and Smith Island.
Smith Island
Geography
Location Antarctica
Coordinates 63°00′S 62°30′W / 63.000°S 62.500°W / -63.000; -62.500
Archipelago South Shetland Islands
Area 148 km2 (57 sq mi)
Length 20 mi (30 km)
Width 5 mi (8 km)
Highest elevation 2,105 m (6,906 ft)
Highest point Mount Foster
Administration
None
Demographics
Population 0
Additional information
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System

Smith Island is 20 miles (32 km) long and 5 miles (8.0 kilometres) wide, lying 45 miles (72 km) west of Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands of the British Antarctic Territory. Surface area 148 square kilometres (57 sq mi).[1]

The discovery of the South Shetland Islands was first reported in 1819 by Capt. William Smith, for whom the island is named. This island was known to both American and British sealers as early as 1820, and the name Smith has been well established in international usage for over 100 years, although in Russian literature it is often referred to as Borodino Island, sometimes marked as Borodino (Smith) Island.

Smith Island seen from southeast

The island hosts no research stations or camps, and is seldom visited by scientists or mountaineers. Its interior is entirely occupied by Imeon Range rising to 2,105 m (6,906 ft) (Mount Foster). The first detailed topographic mapping of the island was made by the Antarctic Place-names Commission and the Military Topographic Service of the Bulgarian Army and published in 2009[1] in both English and Bulgarian.

See also

Coordinates: 63°00′S 62°30′W / 63.000°S 62.500°W / -63.000; -62.500

References

  1. 1 2 L.L. Ivanov. Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich, Robert, Snow and Smith Islands. Scale 1:120000 topographic map. Troyan: Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2010. ISBN 978-954-92032-9-5 (First edition 2009. ISBN 978-954-92032-6-4)


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