Peacock Sound facts for kids
Peacock Sound is a large, ice-filled channel located in Antarctica. It stretches for about 216 kilometres (134 mi) (134 miles) long and 64 km (40 mi) (40 miles) wide. This icy sound separates Thurston Island from the Eights Coast, which is part of Ellsworth Land.
Because the western part of the Abbot Ice Shelf covers Peacock Sound, it is not possible for ships to sail through it. It's essentially a frozen waterway.
Discovery and Naming of Peacock Sound
Peacock Sound was first discovered by explorers flying from the ship Bear in February 1940. These explorers were part of the USAS. Later, in December 1946, more details about the sound were gathered from air photos taken during the US Navy's Operation Highjump.
Confirming Thurston Island
In February 1960, the US Navy's Bellingshausen Sea Expedition noticed that Peacock Sound ran along the entire southern coast of Thurston Island. This observation was important because it confirmed that Thurston Island was indeed a separate island, not connected to the mainland.
How Peacock Sound Got Its Name
The sound was named after the sloop of war Peacock. This ship was part of the USEE, which took place from 1838 to 1842. In March 1839, Captain William L. Hudson sailed the Peacock, along with another ship called the Flying Fish, near the edge of the pack ice north of Thurston Island for several days. The sound was named in honor of their journey and exploration in the area.
