Gremlin Island facts for kids
 Gremlin Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 68°16′S 67°12′W / 68.267°S 67.200°W |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Gremlin Island is a small, rocky island located near the coast of Antarctica. It's a place where no one lives, but it has a fun and mysterious story behind its name! This island is found off the west coast of Graham Land, which is a part of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Contents
What is Gremlin Island?
Gremlin Island is a tiny piece of land made of rocks. It sits in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, not far from a place called Red Rock Ridge. Because it's in Antarctica, the weather there is extremely cold and windy, and the island is often covered in snow and ice.
Exploring the Island
The island was first explored and mapped in 1936. This important work was done by a group of explorers called the British Graham Land Expedition. Their leader was a man named Rymill. When explorers "survey" an area, it means they carefully measure and map it to understand its shape, size, and features.
A Supply Stop in Antarctica
Later, in 1948 and 1949, Gremlin Island became a useful spot for another group of explorers. These were members of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS). The FIDS used the island as a "depot." A depot is like a small storage area where explorers can leave supplies, such as food and equipment, for later use during their long journeys across the ice.
How Gremlin Island Got Its Name
The most interesting thing about Gremlin Island is how it got its name! The FIDS explorers were the ones who named it. They chose the name "Gremlin Island" because something very strange happened there.
The Mysterious Disappearance
One day, a group of FIDS explorers were traveling by "sledge" (a type of sled pulled by dogs or people) and left a box of food, called a "ration box," on the island. They planned to pick it up later. But when they returned, the ration box had completely disappeared! It was gone without a trace.
The explorers couldn't explain what happened to their food. It was as if a mischievous "gremlin" had taken it. Gremlins are imaginary creatures often blamed for strange happenings or mechanical problems. Because of this mysterious event, the FIDS decided to name the island "Gremlin Island," making it a place with a fun, spooky story!
