Cuverville Island facts for kids
![]() Cuverville Island, December 2014
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Location in Antarctica
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Geography | |
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Location | Antarctica |
Coordinates | 64°41′S 62°38′W / 64.683°S 62.633°W |
Administration | |
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Demographics | |
Population | Uninhabited |
Cuverville Island, also called Île de Cavelier de Cuverville, is a small, dark, and rocky island. It is located in the Errera Channel in Antarctica. This channel is a narrow waterway between the Arctowski Peninsula and the northern part of Rongé Island. The island is off the west coast of Graham Land, which is part of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Cuverville Island was discovered by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition. This journey took place from 1897 to 1899. The expedition was led by an explorer named Adrien de Gerlache. He named the island after Jules de Cuverville, who was a vice admiral in the French Navy.
Important Bird Area
Cuverville Island is a very special place for birds. It has been named an Important Bird Area (IBA) by an organization called BirdLife International. This means the island is crucial for bird populations.
The island is home to a large breeding colony of gentoo penguins. A breeding colony is a place where many birds gather to lay eggs and raise their young. There are about 6,500 pairs of gentoo penguins living here. This is the biggest colony of gentoo penguins on the entire Antarctic Peninsula.
Other birds also nest on Cuverville Island. These include southern giant petrels and Antarctic shags. Protecting this island helps these amazing bird species thrive.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Cuverville para niños