Owen Island facts for kids
 Owen Island
Location in Antarctic Peninsula
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 61°56′S 58°26′W / 61.933°S 58.433°W |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Owen Island is a tiny, round island located in the cold region of Antarctica. It's a small piece of land, about the size of 19 football fields, and it's not covered in ice. You can find it near the north coast of King George Island, which is part of the South Shetland Islands.
This island was first mapped and given its name in 1935. This was done by a group of explorers and scientists from the "Discovery Investigations" team. They were sailing on a ship called the Discovery II, exploring the Antarctic waters.
Owen Island: A Special Place for Birds
Owen Island is known as a very important spot for birds. It has been officially recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by an organization called BirdLife International. This means the island is a crucial home for many bird species.
Home to Many Penguins
The main reason Owen Island is so special is because it hosts a huge number of chinstrap penguins. These penguins come to the island to build their nests and raise their young. There are about 21,000 pairs of chinstrap penguins that breed here. This makes Owen Island a very busy and noisy place during the penguin breeding season!
