Young Island facts for kids
Young Island is a cool, icy island in a very cold part of the world called the Southern Ocean. It's the most northern and western island in a group of islands known as the Balleny Islands. No one lives on Young Island, and it's mostly covered in snow and ice!
Young Island is the northernmost of the Balleny Islands
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 Young Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Antarctica (Subantarctic island) |
| Coordinates | 66°17′S 162°25′E / 66.283°S 162.417°E |
| Archipelago | Balleny Islands |
| Length | 35 km (21.7 mi) |
| Width | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,340 m (4,400 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Contents
About Young Island
Young Island is one of the three main islands in the Balleny Islands. These islands are found in the huge Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica. Young Island is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) away from another island called Buckle Island. It's also about 115 kilometers (71 miles) north-northeast of the Antarctic mainland.
What is Young Island like?
Young Island has a unique shape, like half an oval. It has a long, straight east coast and a curved west coast. These two sides meet at points called Cape Scoresby in the south and Cape Ellsworth in the north. The island is about 19 nautical miles (35 kilometers or 22 miles) long. At its widest point, it stretches about 4 nautical miles (7 kilometers or 4.6 miles) across.
The island is a volcano, and it has active fumaroles. These are like vents that let out steam and gases from inside the Earth. Young Island is quite tall, reaching a height of 1,340 meters (4,396 feet). The entire island is covered in a thick blanket of snow. A very powerful volcanic eruption happened here about 1.7 million years ago.
Nearby Islands and Rocks
There are a few smaller islands and rocks close to Young Island. In the channel between Young Island's Cape Scoresby and Buckle Island, you'll find several small islets. The biggest of these is Borradaile Island.
Off the northern tip of Young Island, there are some tall, rocky pillars sticking out of the sea. These are called sea stacks, and they are known as the Seal Rocks.
Who Claims Young Island?
Young Island is part of an area called the Ross Dependency. This area is claimed by New Zealand. However, because of the Antarctic Treaty System, no country truly owns land in Antarctica. This treaty makes sure that Antarctica is used only for peaceful scientific research.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Young para niños
