Butler Island (Antarctica) facts for kids
 Butler Island
Location in Antarctic Peninsula
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 72°13′S 60°8′W / 72.217°S 60.133°W |
| Width | 11 km (6.8 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 185 m (607 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Butler Island is a small, round island covered in ice, located in the cold continent of Antarctica. It sits about 13 kilometres (7 nmi) east of Merz Peninsula, which is part of Palmer Land on Antarctica's eastern coast. This island is about 11 kilometres (6 nmi) wide and rises to a height of 185 metres (610 ft).
Discovering Butler Island
Butler Island was first seen and photographed from the sky in December 1940. This important discovery was made by the United States Antarctic Service, a group exploring the Antarctic region.
Mapping the Island
Years later, in 1947, the island was photographed again from the air. This time, it was by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition. They worked together with another group called the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS). Together, they created detailed maps of the island from the ground.
How Butler Island Got Its Name
The FIDS team decided to name the island after K.S.P. Butler. He was the commander of the FIDS operations during 1947–48. Naming places after explorers and leaders is a common way to honor their contributions to discovery.
