Hasselwood Rock facts for kids
Hasselwood Rock visible as breaking waves to the north of Rockall
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 Hasselwood Rock
Location in Oceans around British Isles
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| Geography | |
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| Location | North Atlantic |
| Coordinates | 57°35′58″N 13°41′19″W / 57.59944°N 13.68861°W |
| Area | 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft) |
| Highest elevation | 1 m (3 ft) |
| Administration | |
Hasselwood Rock is a very small island, also known as a skerry. It is located next to Rockall in the North Atlantic Ocean. A skerry is a tiny, rocky island that is too small for people to live on.
Hasselwood Rock is often hard to see. It is usually only visible as waves breaking over it. This makes it a hidden danger for ships.
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What is Hasselwood Rock?
Hasselwood Rock is the top part of an old, extinct volcano. It is about 200 meters (656 feet) north of the larger Rockall island.
This small rock is only about 1 meter (3 feet) above the water when the tide is low. It is about 13 meters (43 feet) wide. When the tide is high or the sea is rough, the rock is completely covered by water. There is no fresh water on Hasselwood Rock, so no one can live there. The only other rocks nearby are Helen's Reef, which is almost 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to the north-east.
Shipwrecks and History
Hasselwood Rock has been the site of two major shipwrecks. These events show how dangerous the rock can be for ships.
The Helen Shipwreck (1824)
In 1824, a ship called the Helen was sailing from Dundee to Quebec. On May 17, the ship hit Hasselwood Rock. The crew tried for many hours to keep the ship from sinking. However, water filled the ship's hold. The captain told the passengers to go to the deck with warm clothes. It was very difficult to launch the lifeboats. One boat was even damaged and had to be fixed. Sadly, many people on board lost their lives during this terrible event.
The SS Norge Disaster (1904)
Another major shipwreck happened on June 28, 1904. The SS Norge, a large Danish passenger ship, ran aground on Hasselwood Rock. This was a very sad event, and over 635 people died when the ship sank. Among them were 225 people from Norway. This disaster is one of the worst peacetime shipping tragedies in the North Atlantic.
Images for kids
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ROCKALL - Nautical chart - Atlantic Sea Pilot, 1884
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