Wednesday Island facts for kids
 Wednesday Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 64°56′S 63°45′W / 64.933°S 63.750°W |
| Archipelago | Wilhelm Archipelago |
| Length | 1.9 km (1.18 mi) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Wednesday Island is a small island located in the cold, icy lands of Antarctica. It's about 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) long, which is roughly 1.9 kilometers. You can find it at the eastern edge of the Wauwermans Islands, which are part of the larger Wilhelm Archipelago. This area is known for its many islands and chilly waters.
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Discovering Wednesday Island
Wednesday Island has a cool name because of how it was found! Explorers first saw it on a Wednesday. It's a great example of how places sometimes get simple, memorable names based on when they were discovered.
Early Antarctic Explorers
The area around Wednesday Island was explored by several brave expeditions. These groups faced harsh conditions to map and understand the Antarctic continent.
German Expedition (1873–74)
The Wauwermans Islands, where Wednesday Island is located, were first discovered by a German expedition. This group was led by Eduard Dallmann between 1873 and 1874. They were among the first to explore this part of Antarctica.
Belgian and French Expeditions
Later, more explorers came to map the region. The Belgian Antarctic Expedition, led by Adrien de Gerlache, roughly mapped the area from 1897 to 1899. Soon after, the French Antarctic Expedition, under Jean-Baptiste Charcot, continued this work from 1903 to 1905. These expeditions helped create the first basic maps of the islands.
British Graham Land Expedition (1934–37)
Wednesday Island itself was properly mapped much later. This happened during the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE) between 1934 and 1937. This expedition was led by John Riddoch Rymill. It was during their detailed charting work that the island was first sighted on a Wednesday, giving it its unique name.
