Watkins Island facts for kids
 Watkins
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 66°22′S 67°05′W / 66.367°S 67.083°W |
| Archipelago | Biscoe Islands |
| Length | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Watkins Island is a fascinating island covered in ice. It's located in the cold lands of Antarctica. This island is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long. It lies southwest of another island called Lavoisier Island. Both are part of the Biscoe Islands group.
Discovering Watkins Island
Watkins Island was first explored a long time ago. The French Antarctic Expedition mapped it between 1903 and 1905. They also visited again from 1908 to 1910. However, they didn't give the island a name.
Naming the Island
The island was seen again much later. This happened during the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE). This expedition was led by John Rymill from 1934 to 1937. Rymill decided to name it Mikkelsen Island. He named it after Ejnar Mikkelsen, a brave Danish explorer of the Arctic.
However, there was a problem. Rymill didn't know that another group of islands already existed. These were the Mikkelsen Islands. They were about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest. The French expedition had named them earlier, between 1908 and 1910.
Solving the Name Mix-Up
To avoid confusion, a change was needed. The UK-APC (United Kingdom Antarctic Place-names Committee) stepped in. In 1952, they suggested a new name for Rymill's island. This new name was Watkins Island.
The island was renamed to honor Gino Watkins. He was a famous leader of the British Arctic Air Route Expedition. This expedition took place from 1930 to 1931. To still remember Ejnar Mikkelsen, a new place was named for him. This new place is called Mikkelsen Bay.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Watkins (Antártida) para niños
