Gand Island facts for kids
 Gand Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 64°24′S 62°51′W / 64.400°S 62.850°W |
| Archipelago | Palmer Archipelago |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Gand Island, also known as Ghent Island or Genteiland (in Dutch), is a beautiful island covered in ice. It's about 3 nautical miles (6 km) long and 1.5 nautical miles (3 km) wide. You can find it at the northern end of the Schollaert Channel, located between Anvers Island and Brabant Island in the Palmer Archipelago.
Discovering Gand Island
Gand Island was first discovered by brave explorers during the Belgian Antarctic Expedition. This important journey took place between 1897 and 1899. The island was named by Adrien de Gerlache, who led the expedition. He chose the name "Gand" because it's the French name for Ghent. Ghent is a city in Belgium. People there helped raise money to pay for the expedition. This shows how important community support was for these early explorations.
Where is Gand Island?
Gand Island is located in the icy continent of Antarctica. It's part of a group of islands called the Palmer Archipelago. This archipelago is a chain of islands off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Gand Island sits specifically at the northern end of the Schollaert Channel. It is positioned between two larger islands: Anvers Island and Brabant Island.
What is Gand Island Like?
Gand Island is mostly covered in ice. This means it has a very cold and harsh environment. Like many places in Antarctica, it is uninhabited. No people live there permanently. The island is part of the Antarctic Treaty System. This international agreement helps protect Antarctica's environment. It also makes sure the continent is used only for peaceful scientific research.
