Steeple Jason Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steeple Jason
Island
Steeple Jason Location in Falkland Islands
Country	Falkland Islands
Island group	Jason Islands
Named for	English: Refers to pointed profile of island
Area
• Total	8.72 km2 (3.37 sq mi)
Population
• Total	0
• Density	0/km2 (0/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−3 (FKST)
If shown, area and population ranks are for all islands and all inhabited islands in the Falklands respectively.

Steeple Jason Island is a small island located west of Grand Jason Island. It is part of the Jason Islands, which are found in the Falkland Islands. In Spanish, Steeple Jason and Grand Jason are sometimes called "Islas los Salvajes," meaning "the Wild Islands."

About Steeple Jason Island

Steeple Jason Island has never had people living on it permanently. However, it was once used for raising sheep until the 1980s. You can still see the remains of an old building where sheep were shorn (had their wool cut off).

In 2003, a special place called Steinhart Station was built on the island. This is a field research station where scientists study and watch the amazing wildlife that lives there.

The island gets its name "Steeple" because of its shape. The land near the shore is low, but it quickly rises to a very steep, pointed peak.

Amazing Wildlife on Steeple Jason

Steeple Jason Island is a very important place for birds. It is home to the largest group of black-browed albatrosses in the entire world! More than 70% of all black-browed albatrosses globally come to the Falkland Islands to breed.

Other Birds and Marine Animals

Many other types of birds also live on Steeple Jason. These include:

• Southern rockhopper penguins
• Magellanic penguins
• Gentoo penguins
• Slender-billed prions
• Striated caracaras (a type of falcon)
• Tussac-birds

While Magellanic penguins are near the warmest part of their living area here, gentoo penguins can live much further south, even near Antarctica. The only mammals you'll find on the island are marine animals like sea lions and fur seals, which live in the ocean around the island.

Plants and Threats to Wildlife

The waters around Steeple Jason Island have large areas of kelp, which are a type of seaweed. The land itself is covered in grasses, especially tussac grass, which is common in the Falkland Islands.

Sadly, many birds and other animals on Steeple Jason Island are facing threats. The biggest problem is overfishing in the South Atlantic Ocean. This means too many fish are being caught, which leaves less food for the island's wildlife.

See also

• In Spanish: Isla Salvaje del Oeste para niños