Raketa Island facts for kids
 Raketa Island
Location in Antarctica
Raketa Island
Location in Antarctic Peninsula
Location of Raketa Island
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 65°01′37″S 64°03′41″W / 65.02694°S 64.06139°W |
| Archipelago | Wilhelm Archipelago |
| Area | 5.18 ha (12.8 acres) |
| Length | 511 m (1,677 ft) |
| Width | 177 m (581 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Raketa Island is a small, mostly ice-covered island located in Antarctica. Its name comes from the Bulgarian words for 'rocket' (Bulgarian: остров Ракета, romanized: ostrov Raketa). This island is part of the Dannebrog Islands group, which belongs to the Wilhelm Archipelago. It's found near the Antarctic Peninsula.
Raketa Island is about 511 meters (1,677 feet) long from west to east. It is also around 177 meters (581 feet) wide. The island covers an area of about 5.18 hectares, which is roughly the size of five international football fields.
What's in a Name?
Raketa Island got its name because of its unique shape. People thought it looked like a rocket mounted on a trailer! The name 'Raketa' means 'rocket' in Bulgarian. Many islands in this area have descriptive names, and this one fits right in.
Where is Raketa Island?
Raketa Island is located in a very cold part of the world, at 65°01′37″S 64°03′41″W / 65.02694°S 64.06139°W. It is situated in the Dannebrog Islands group, which is part of the larger Wilhelm Archipelago. This archipelago is off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The island is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north and west of the western tip of Booth Island. It is also quite close to other islands. For example, it is 540 meters (1,772 feet) southeast of Meduza Island. Raketa Island is also about 2.96 kilometers (1.84 miles) south-southwest of Kosatka Island. Finally, it lies 1.61 kilometers (1 mile) northwest of Rollet Island. British maps first showed this area in detail in 2001.
