Moe Island facts for kids
Moe Island is a small island about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long. It is located in the South Orkney Islands, which are off the coast of Antarctica. Moe Island is separated from Signy Island by a narrow waterway called Fyr Channel.
A captain named Petter Sørlle first mapped the island in 1912–1913. It was named after M. Thoralf Moe, who was a whaling captain from Norway working in the area at that time. The very northern tip of the island is called Spaull Point. It was named in 1969 after Vaughan W. Spaull, a scientist who studied biology for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) on nearby Signy Island.
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Special Protection for Nature on Moe Island
Moe Island is a very important place for nature. It has been named an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 109). This means the island is protected because of its special plants and animals.
Unique Plants and Tiny Creatures
The island has amazing areas of thick mosses, like Chorisodontium and Polytrichum. It also has rocky areas called fellfield with plants like Andreaea and Usnea. These plants are part of a diverse group called cryptogams, which include mosses and lichens.
Sometimes, Antarctic fur seals can accidentally damage the moss. Underneath the stones, you can find tiny creatures. These include two types of mites, Stereotydeus villosus and Gamasellus racovitzai. There is also a small insect called a springtail, Cryptopygus antarcticus, which is very common.
Important Bird Spotting Area
Moe Island is also known as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. This is because many seabirds come here to build their nests and raise their young.
Penguins and Other Seabirds
In 1978–1979, scientists counted about 11,000 pairs of chinstrap penguins nesting on the island. However, their numbers have gone down since then. In January 2006, only about 100 pairs were found.
Other birds that nest on Moe Island include Cape petrels, Antarctic prions, and snow petrels. These birds rely on the island as a safe place to lay their eggs and raise their chicks.
