Chionis Island facts for kids
 Chionis Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 63°52′S 60°38′W / 63.867°S 60.633°W |
| Archipelago | Palmer Archipelago |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Chionis Island is a small island located near Trinity Island in the Palmer Archipelago. This group of islands is part of Antarctica, a very cold continent at the South Pole. Chionis Island is uninhabited, meaning no people live there permanently.
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What's in a Name?
Why is it called Chionis Island?
Chionis Island got its name from a special bird. In 1960, the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee decided to name the island after the sheathbill (Chionis albus). This bird is very common in the Antarctic region.
The Island's Old Name
Before it was called Chionis Island, whalers (people who hunted whales) in the 1920s used to call it Snow Island. However, this name was never officially put on maps. There is another, much larger Snow Island nearby in the South Shetland Islands. To avoid confusion, a new name was chosen for this smaller island.
Minerva Rocks
What are the Minerva Rocks?
Just off the coast of Chionis Island, there is a small group of rocks called the Minerva Rocks. These rocks are named after a ship that had an accident there.
The Story of the Minerva
The Minerva was a whale catcher ship. It worked for a larger British factory ship called the Pythia. In March 1922, the Minerva accidentally ran aground on these rocks. The crew had to leave the ship. Because of the strong ocean waves, the Minerva was completely destroyed. This event led to the rocks being named in its memory.
