Jorge Island facts for kids
Location of Jorge Island in the South Shetland Islands
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Location of Jorge Island
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Geography | |
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Location | Antarctica |
Coordinates | 62°22′47.1″S 59°45′38.5″W / 62.379750°S 59.760694°W |
Archipelago | Aitcho group |
Area | 13 ha (32 acres) |
Length | 0.42 km (0.261 mi) |
Width | 0.3 km (0.19 mi) |
Administration | |
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Demographics | |
Population | Uninhabited |
Jorge Island is a small, ice-free island located in the Aitcho group. This group of islands is found on the west side of English Strait in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The island is about 420 meters (1,378 feet) long and 300 meters (984 feet) wide. Its total area is around 13 hectares (about 32 acres). In the early 1800s, seal hunters often visited this area.
How Jorge Island Got Its Name
Jorge Island was named by the Chilean Antarctic Expedition in 1949. They named it after Jorge Duarte, who was the son of Captain José Duarte. Captain Duarte was in charge of the patrol ship Lautaro during the expedition.
Where is Jorge Island?
Jorge Island is part of a cluster of islands. It is located about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) north-northwest of Barrientos Island. It is also very close to Bilyana Island, just 100 meters (328 feet) to its north.
Other nearby islands include Riksa Islands, which are about 500 meters (1,640 feet) to the east-northeast. To the south, about 600 meters (1,968 feet) away, are the Okol Rocks. Jorge Island is also located about 1.96 kilometers (1.2 miles) west-southwest of Fort William on Robert Island.
Different countries have mapped this area over the years. Chile mapped it in 1961, Britain in 1968, Argentina in 1980, and Bulgaria in 2005 and 2009.