DeLaca Island facts for kids
Location in Antarctica
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Geography | |
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Location | Antarctica |
Coordinates | 64°47′S 64°07′W / 64.783°S 64.117°W |
Archipelago | Palmer Archipelago |
Administration | |
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Demographics | |
Population | Uninhabited |
DeLaca Island is a small, U-shaped island located in the cold waters near Antarctica. It is found about 0.8 nautical miles (1.5 kilometers) west of Bonaparte Point. This island is off the southwest coast of Anvers Island, which is part of the Palmer Archipelago. DeLaca Island is a special place for scientists. It is one of two main areas where researchers study land-dwelling creatures called arthropods.
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Discovering DeLaca Island
DeLaca Island is a tiny piece of land in a very remote part of the world. It is part of the Palmer Archipelago, a group of islands near the Antarctic Peninsula.
Where is DeLaca Island?
The island is situated in the icy seas of Antarctica. Its exact location is 64 degrees 47 minutes South and 64 degrees 07 minutes West. This puts it close to the larger Anvers Island. The island is uninhabited, meaning no people live there permanently.
What does DeLaca Island look like?
DeLaca Island has a unique U-shape. It is quite small, measuring less than 1 kilometer across. Its size makes it a focused spot for scientific studies. The island's rugged landscape is typical of the Antarctic region.
Science on the Island
DeLaca Island plays an important role in scientific research. It is a key site for studying small land animals in Antarctica.
Studying Tiny Creatures
Scientists come to DeLaca Island to study terrestrial arthropods. Arthropods are a group of animals with exoskeletons, like insects, spiders, and crustaceans. On DeLaca Island, researchers look at arthropods that live on land. This research helps us understand how these tiny creatures survive in Antarctica's harsh, cold environment.
What is USARP?
The studies on DeLaca Island are part of the United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP). USARP is a program that supports scientific research in Antarctica. It helps scientists from the United States explore and understand this unique continent. The research on DeLaca Island helps USARP learn more about the wildlife of Antarctica.
How DeLaca Island Got Its Name
DeLaca Island was named by the United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN). This committee is responsible for naming places in Antarctica.
The island was named after Ted E. DeLaca. He was a member of a biological research team from the University of California, Davis. Ted E. DeLaca and his team worked in this area of Antarctica from 1971 to 1974. Naming the island after him honored his contributions to the scientific understanding of the region.
See also
In Spanish: Isla DeLaca para niños