Bear Island (Antarctica) facts for kids
 Bear Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 68°10′48″S 67°3′36″W / 68.18000°S 67.06000°W |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Bear Island, also known as Isla Teniente González, is a small, rocky island located in the icy waters of Antarctica. It sits about 1.9 kilometers (1 nautical mile) west of Stonington Island. This island is part of Marguerite Bay, which is off the coast of a larger landmass called Graham Land.
About Bear Island
Bear Island is a rugged piece of land, mostly made of rock. It's found in a very cold part of the world, near the South Pole. Because of its location in Antarctica, no people live on Bear Island permanently. It's a place of extreme weather and icy conditions.
Where is Bear Island?
This island is located in Marguerite Bay, which is a large bay on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica. Bear Island is specifically off the coast of a region known as Graham Land.
How Bear Island Got Its Name
Bear Island was likely known to explorers who visited the area in the late 1930s and early 1940s. These groups included the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE) from 1934 to 1937 and the United States Antarctic Service (USAS) Expedition from 1939 to 1941. Both of these expeditions had bases nearby, especially around Stonington Island.
The island was officially mapped and named in 1947 by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS). They decided to name it after the USS Bear. This ship was very important because it was the main ship, or "flagship," for the United States Antarctic Service (USAS) Expedition. The USS Bear visited this specific area in 1940, playing a key role in exploring the Antarctic region.
See also
In Spanish: Islote Bear para niños
