Hermite Islands facts for kids
|
Native name:
Islas Hermite or L'Hermite
Nickname: Samajani (Yahgan Language)
|
|
|---|---|
_2.jpg)
The best known of the islands, Cape Horn
|
|
 Hermite Islands
Location in Southern Patagonia
|
|
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 55°50′00″S 67°25′00″W / 55.8333°S 67.4167°W |
| Archipelago | Tierra del Fuego |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Pacific ocean |
| Major islands | Hermite, Herschel, Deceit and Hornos |
| Administration | |
| Region | Magallanes |
| Province | Antártica |
| Commune | Cabo de Hornos |
| Additional information | |
| NGA UFI= -884095 | |
The Hermite Islands (which means Islas Hermite in Spanish) are a group of islands located at the very southern tip of South America. They are part of Chile. The main islands are Hermite, Herschel, Deceit, and Hornos.
The smallest and most famous of these is Hornos Island. This is where the legendary Cape Horn is found. The Hermite Islands are south of the Wollaston Islands, separated by the Franklin Channel.
Other small islands nearby, like Terhalten, Sesambre, Evout, and Barnevelt, are to the east. They are not usually considered part of the Hermite Islands. Even further south are the Diego Ramírez Islands, which are the southernmost islands of the Americas. South of all these islands is the Drake Passage, a famous and often stormy sea route.
A part of Deceit Island has sharp rocks that stick out into the sea. These rocks are known as Los dientes o garras de Deceit, which means "the Teeth or Claws of Deceit." They end in a rough small island called Islote Deceit. The Hermite Islands are part of the Cabo de Hornos National Park, a protected area.
History of the Hermite Islands
Naming the Islands
The Hermite Islands are named after a Dutch admiral named Jacques l'Hermite. He lived from 1582 to 1624. It's common for places to be named after important explorers or historical figures.
Famous Visitors
The famous scientist Charles Darwin visited the Hermite Islands. He was there around the end of 1832 and the beginning of 1833. Darwin was on his famous voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, which helped him develop his ideas about evolution.
A Historical Event
In 1979, there was a disagreement between Argentina and Chile about their border. The government of Argentina at the time tried to make Chile change its mind about the border. They did this by making a military move towards the islands, which was called Operation Soberania. This event was part of a larger disagreement known as the Beagle conflict.
-
Landscape in the Hermite Islands
-
Teeth of Deceit
-
Barnevelt Island
-
Evout Island
See also
In Spanish: Islas Hermite para niños
- List of islands of Chile
- Beagle conflict
