Aitcho Islands (South Shetland Islands) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Aitcho Islands

Location of Aitcho Islands in the South Shetland Islands.
Aitcho Islands Location in South Shetland Islands Show map of South Shetland Islands Aitcho Islands Location in Antarctica Show map of Antarctica Location of in the South Shetland Islands##Location in Antarctica
Geography
Location	Antarctica
Coordinates	62°23′29″S 59°46′10″W / 62.39139°S 59.76944°W / -62.39139; -59.76944
Archipelago	South Shetland Islands
Area	1.9204 km2 (0.7415 sq mi)
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited

The Aitcho Islands (‘Aitcho’ standing for ‘H.O.’ i.e. ‘Hydrographic Office’) are a group of minor islands on the west side of the north entrance to English Strait separating Greenwich Island and Robert Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, which are situated between Dee Island to the south and Table Island to the north. The group is separated from Dee Island and Sierra Island to the southwest by Villalón Passage (62°24′48.3″S 59°46′12.3″W / 62.413417°S 59.770083°W / -62.413417; -59.770083). The area was visited by early 19th century sealers operating from nearby Clothier Harbour. During the austral summer the islands are often visited by Antarctic cruise ships with tourists who land to watch wildlife.

The islands were mapped in 1935 during the oceanographic investigations carried out by the Discovery Committee, and named after the Hydrographic Office of the UK Admiralty. Some of the island names were given by Chilean Antarctic expeditions between 1949 and 1951.

Islands

Cecilia Island from English Strait.

Topographic map of Livingston Island, Greenwich, Robert, Snow and Smith Islands, featuring Aitcho Islands.

Barrientos Island from English Strait.

The islands and some notable rocks of the Aitcho group are:

• Barrientos Island
• Bilyana Island
• Cecilia Island, named Isla Torre by Chile
• Chaos Reef
• Cheshire Rock
• Emeline Island
• Jorge Island
• Kilifarevo Island
• Morris Rock
• Okol Rocks
• Pasarel Island
• Passage Rock
• Riksa Islands

Flora and fauna

Among the bird species found on the islands are chinstrap and gentoo penguins, southern giant petrels, and skuas. Southern elephant seals are among the larger life forms. There are also a wide variety of lichens and mosses reported.

Maps

• L.L. Ivanov et al., Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands (from English Strait to Morton Strait, with illustrations and ice-cover distribution), 1:100000 scale topographic map, Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria, Sofia, 2005
• 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)

See also

In Spanish: Islas Aitcho para niños