Kostov Island facts for kids
Map of the South Orkney Islands
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 Kostov Island
Location in Antarctica
Location of Kostov Island
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 60°42′47″S 45°09′12″W / 60.71306°S 45.15333°W |
| Archipelago | South Orkney Islands |
| Area | 4 ha (9.9 acres) |
| Length | 380 m (1,250 ft) |
| Width | 210 m (690 ft) |
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Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
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| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Kostov Island (Bulgarian: Костов остров, romanized: Kostov ostrov) is a small, rocky island located in the cold waters of Antarctica. It is about 380 meters (1,247 feet) long from north to south and 210 meters (689 feet) wide. The island covers an area of 4 hectares (about 10 acres).
You can find Kostov Island in Lewthwaite Strait, which is a narrow stretch of water. It lies just off the east coast of Coronation Island. Both islands are part of the South Orkney Islands, a group of islands in the Southern Ocean. No one lives on Kostov Island. Like much of Antarctica, it is managed under the Antarctic Treaty System. This agreement ensures that Antarctica is used only for peaceful, scientific purposes.
Where is Kostov Island Located?
Kostov Island is found at specific coordinates: 60°42′47″S, 45°09′12″W. These numbers help scientists and explorers pinpoint its exact spot on a map.
The island is located about 1.75 kilometers (1.09 miles) north-northeast of the very tip of southeastern Coronation Island. It is also about 2.48 kilometers (1.54 miles) south of the entrance to Spence Harbour. Another landmark, Cape Disappointment on Powell Island, is about 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) west-southwest of Kostov Island. British explorers mapped this area in 1963.
How Did Kostov Island Get Its Name?
Kostov Island is named after Captain Kosyo Kostov. He was the commander of a large ocean fishing trawler called the Afala. This ship belonged to a Bulgarian company named Ocean Fisheries – Burgas.
Captain Kostov and his crew made important fishing trips to the Antarctic waters. They fished near South Georgia between March and August in 1985. They also returned for the 1985/86 fishing season. Bulgarian fishermen, along with those from the Soviet Union, Poland, and East Germany, were among the first to develop modern Antarctic fishing. Naming the island after Captain Kostov honors his role in this history.
