Heywood Island (Antarctica) facts for kids
Location of Robert Island in the South Shetland Islands
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 Heywood Island
Location in Antarctic Peninsula
Heywood Island
Location in Antarctica
Location of Heywood Island
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 62°19′11″S 59°41′08″W / 62.31972°S 59.68556°W |
| Archipelago | South Shetland Islands |
| Area | 78 ha (190 acres) |
| Length | 1.4 km (0.87 mi) |
| Width | 0.85 km (0.528 mi) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Heywood Island is a small island located in Antarctica. It is the largest island found off the northern coast of Robert Island in the South Shetland Islands.
The island was named after Captain Peter Heywood. He was an officer in the Royal Navy who sailed near South America in the early 1800s. Before that, he was a young officer on the famous ship HMS Bounty. In the early 19th century, sealers often visited this area for their work.
Exploring Heywood Island
Heywood Island is located near other islands in the South Shetland group. It lies about 2.88 kilometers (1.8 miles) west of Catharina Point on Robert Island. It is also 2.24 kilometers (1.4 miles) northwest of Hammer Point.
The island is about 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) long and 0.85 kilometers (0.5 miles) wide. Its total surface area is about 78 hectares (193 acres). Heywood Island does not have any ice. It is a low-lying island and shaped like a horseshoe. Its western coast has a curved area called Vrabcha Cove, which is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) long.
Home to Many Birds
Heywood Island is a very important place for birds. BirdLife International has named it an Important Bird Area (IBA). This means it is a special spot that needs protection because many birds live or breed there.
The island is home to one of the biggest chinstrap penguin colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. Around 90,000 pairs of these penguins live and raise their young here. This makes Heywood Island a vital place for these amazing birds.
