Volunteer Point facts for kids
Volunteer Point is a special place on the east coast of the Falkland Islands. It's a piece of land that sticks out into the ocean, protecting a calm area called Volunteer Lagoon. This area got its name in 1815 from a ship called Volunteer. The ship left some of its crew there to collect seal skins.
Years later, in 1820, a French research ship named L'Uranie hit a hidden rock near Volunteer Point. Luckily, the ship stayed afloat long enough to be moved to a safer spot. Everyone on board survived, including the captain's wife, Rose de Freycinet, who wrote about it in her diary. Near the point, there's a small building called Volunteer Shanty. It used to be a resting place for people exploring the area.
Volunteer Point in the Falklands War
Volunteer Point is one of the easternmost parts of the Falkland Islands. During the Falklands War, military leaders from Argentina thought this spot might be a good place for British forces to land. This was because it was quite far from Argentine airbases. They also saw it as a good starting point for any British plan to take back Stanley. However, the British forces ended up landing in a different area called San Carlos Water, on the western side of East Falkland.
Amazing Wildlife at Volunteer Point
Volunteer Point is a very important place for birds. It has been named an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. This means it's a crucial spot for protecting many different bird species.
You can find many types of birds here, including:
- Falkland steamer ducks (about 75 pairs)
- Ruddy-headed geese (around 100 pairs)
- Gentoo penguins (about 3,600 pairs as of 2014)
- Magellanic penguins (around 2,500 pairs as of 2014)
- White-bridled finches
Volunteer Point is especially famous for its king penguins. As of 2014, there were about 1,500 pairs of king penguins breeding here. This is the most northerly place where king penguins are known to breed. King penguins were once almost gone from the Falkland Islands, so Volunteer Point is now home to most of the king penguins in the area. You can also see large southern elephant seals resting on the beaches.
See also
In Spanish: Punta Voluntario para niños
