Fumarole Bay facts for kids
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Fumarole Bay is a special bay found on Deception Island, which is part of the South Shetland Islands. This island is located in the cold waters near Antarctica. Fumarole Bay is on the southwest side of a larger, enclosed water area called Port Foster.
What is Fumarole Bay?
Fumarole Bay is a small part of a bigger, protected body of water called Port Foster. Port Foster is actually the flooded center of an active volcano! This makes Deception Island a very unique place.
How Fumarole Bay Got Its Name
The bay was first named "Bahia 1 de Mayo" or "Bahia Primero de Mayo" by an Argentine expedition. This happened between 1942 and 1943. The name honored their ship, the 1 de Mayo. This ship visited Deception Island in 1942 and 1943. Sadly, the 1 de Mayo sank off the coast of Argentina in 1944.
Later, scientists from the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey explored the area. They did a full survey in 1953 and 1954. Air photos were also taken in 1956 and 1957. After these studies, the bay was renamed 'Fumarole Bay'. It got this new name because the most active fumarole on the island is found right there.
What are Fumaroles?
A fumarole is like a small vent in the Earth's crust. It releases steam and hot gases. Think of it as a tiny chimney for a volcano. The fumaroles at Fumarole Bay are very hot. Their temperatures range from 100 to 107 degrees Celsius (212 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit). This is hot enough to boil water! These hot spots show that the volcano on Deception Island is still active.
See also
- In Spanish: Bahía Primero de Mayo para niños
