Wood Island (Livingston Island) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wood Island

Wood Island (in the centre) from Zemen Knoll, Livingston Island, with Miladinovi Islets to the left and Desolation Island on the right.
Location of Desolation Island in the South Shetland Islands
Wood Island Location in Antarctic Peninsula Show map of Antarctic Peninsula Wood Island Location in Antarctica Show map of Antarctica
Geography
Location	Antarctica
Coordinates	62°29′02.7″S 60°18′15.1″W / 62.484083°S 60.304194°W / -62.484083; -60.304194
Archipelago	South Shetland Islands
Area	14 ha (35 acres)
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited

Wood Island is a small, rocky island located in Hero Bay. This bay is part of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, a group of islands near Antarctica. Wood Island sits southeast of Desolation Island and Miladinovi Islets. It also forms the southern edge of Blythe Bay.

The island covers an area of about 14 hectares (which is about 34.6 acres). Long ago, in the early 1800s, English and American sealers often visited this area. They used Blythe Bay as a base for their activities.

The name 'Wood Island' comes from 'Wood Harbour' or 'Port Wood'. Captain Robert Fildes first used these names for Blythe Bay in December 1820.

Where is Wood Island Located?

Wood Island is found at specific coordinates: 62°29′02.7″S 60°18′15.1″W / 62.484083°S 60.304194°W / -62.484083; -60.304194. It is about 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles) east-southeast of Miladinovi Islets. It's also 2.38 kilometers (1.48 miles) southeast of Iratais Point on Desolation Island.

Other nearby points on Livingston Island include Williams Point (9.33 km or 5.8 mi southwest), Kotis Point (5.2 km or 3.2 mi west-northwest), Bezmer Point (4.65 km or 2.89 mi northwest), and Siddins Point (9.55 km or 5.93 mi northeast). Maps from 1821, 1935 (British), and 2005, 2009 (Bulgarian) show these locations.

Topographic map of Livingston Island and nearby islands.

Maps of the Area

You can find Wood Island on detailed maps of the region. One important map is:

• L.L. Ivanov et al., Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands (from English Strait to Morton Strait, with illustrations and ice-cover distribution), Scale 1:100000 map, Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sofia, 2005. This map shows Livingston Island and Greenwich Island.