Visokoi Island facts for kids
South Sandwich Islands
|
|
Location of Visokoi Island
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 56°42′S 027°12′W / 56.700°S 27.200°W |
| Archipelago | South Sandwich Islands |
| Length | 7.2 km (4.47 mi) |
| Width | 4.8 km (2.98 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,005 m (3,297 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Hodson |
| Administration | |
|
United Kingdom
|
|
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Visokoi Island is an island that no one lives on. It is part of the Traversay Islands group, which belongs to the South Sandwich Islands.
A Russian team led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen found the island in 1819. They first called it Thorson Island, after Lieutenant Konstantin Thorson. However, the Russian government later changed the name to Visokoi, which means "high." They did this because Thorson was involved in an uprising against the government. The island was renamed because it stands out with its height.
In 1930, people from the Discovery Investigations (DI) explored the island. They mapped it and gave names to many of its features. Some of these names were changed in 1953 by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC). This was done to avoid having the same names as places nearby.
Contents
Exploring Visokoi Island's Features
Visokoi Island is about 7.2 km (4.5 miles) long and 4.8 km (3.0 miles) wide. Its highest point is Mount Hodson, a volcano that is 1,005 metres or 3,297 feet tall. This peak is named after Sir Arnold Weinholt Hodson, who was a governor of the Falkland Islands. The island often smells strongly of sulfur fumes.
The island is surrounded by an underwater shelf. This shelf extends out about 2.3–6 kilometres (1.4–3.7 mi) from the island. It is about 200 metres (660 ft) deep.
Northern and Western Points
Finger Point is at the very northern tip of the island. The DI team gave it this name in 1930 because of its shape.
Wordie Point is the island's southwest tip. It was named after James Wordie, a Scottish geologist and explorer of the polar regions. About 1.5 nmi (2.8 km) north of Wordie Point is Sulphur Point. This area has reddish ground with streaks of sulfur. The DI team first called it West Bluff. But the UK-APC renamed it to avoid confusion with another West Bluff on nearby Zavodovski Island.
Eastern and Southern Points
Irving Point is the easternmost part of Visokoi Island. It was first found by von Bellingshausen's expedition. The DI team called it "Penguin Point." However, the UK-APC changed its name to avoid having too many places with similar names. Irving Point was chosen to honor Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander J. Irving. He drew sketches of the South Sandwich Islands from the ship Discovery II.
About 1.3 nmi (2.4 km) northwest of Irving Point is Saddle Bluff, named by the DI team. Close by is Shamrock Hill, a noticeable volcanic cone. A survey team from HMS Protector named it. They were working there on Saint Patrick's Day in 1964.
Mikhaylov Point is a small piece of land at the island's southern end. The DI team called it "Low Point." But its name was changed by the UK-APC to avoid confusion with Low Point on nearby Vindication Island. The name "Mikhaylov Point" honors Pavel N. Mikhaylov. He was an artist on the ship Vostok during the Russian expedition led by von Bellingshausen.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Visokoi para niños
