San Telmo Island facts for kids
Location of Livingstone in the South Shetland Islands
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 San Telmo Island
Location in Antarctic Peninsula
San Telmo Island
Location in Antarctica
Location of San Telmo Island
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 62°28′S 60°49′W / 62.467°S 60.817°W |
| Archipelago | South Shetland Islands |
| Area | 22 ha (54 acres) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
San Telmo Island is a small island located in a very cold place called Antarctica. It is part of the South Shetland Islands, which are a group of islands near the bottom of the world. This island is found off the northwest coast of Livingston Island. San Telmo Island is quite small, covering about 22 hectares (that's about 54 acres). No people live on the island permanently.
Island History: How San Telmo Got Its Name
San Telmo Island was named in 1958 by a group from the United Kingdom. It got its name from a Spanish ship called the San Telmo. This ship was the main vessel of a Spanish navy group.
In 1819, the San Telmo was sailing to Callao, Peru. Its mission was to help the Spanish forces there. They were fighting against groups who wanted independence for their countries in South America.
The ship faced very bad weather in a stormy area called the Drake Passage. This passage is known for its rough seas. The San Telmo was badly damaged and eventually lost at sea.
About two years later, in 1821, seal hunters found parts of the San Telmo ship. They discovered some of its wooden poles and an anchor on a nearby beach. This beach is now known as Half Moon Beach.
A Special Place for Wildlife: Antarctic Specially Protected Area
San Telmo Island is a very important place for animals and plants. Because of this, it has been made an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 149). This means it is a protected zone.
The island, along with a nearby spot called Cape Shirreff, is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It is especially important for its large groups of breeding penguins and fur seals. Protecting this area helps these animals live and raise their young safely.
Maps of the Area
- L.L. Ivanov et al., Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands (from English Strait to Morton Strait, with illustrations and ice-cover distribution), 1:100000 scale topographic map, Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria, Sofia, 2005
