Alexander Island

For other uses, see Alexander Island: which one?.

Alexander Island
Geography
Alexander Island shown within Antarctica
Alexander Island (Antarctic Peninsula)
Location	Antarctica
Coordinates	71°00′S 70°00′W / 71°S 70°W / -71; -70
Area	49,070 km² (18,946 sq mi)
Area rank	28th
Highest elevation	2,987 m (9,800 ft)
Highest point	Mount Stephenson
Country
Antarctica
Additional information
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System

Alexander Island or Alexander I Island or Alexander I Land or Alexander Land is the largest island of Antarctica, with an area of 18,946 sq mi (49,070 km²) lying in the Bellingshausen Sea west of the base of the Antarctic Peninsula, from which it is separated by Marguerite Bay and George VI Sound. Alexander Island lies off the coast of Antarctica and is linked to it by the George VI Ice Shelf. The island partly surrounds Wilkins Sound, which lies to its west. Alexander Island is about 240 miles (390 km) long in a north-south direction, 50 miles (80 km) wide in the north, and 150 miles (240 km) wide in the south.^[1] Features of the island include the Sofia University Mountains and Lake Hodgson.

History

Alexander Island (NASA imagery)

Alexander Island was discovered on January 28, 1821 by a Russian expedition under Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, who named it Alexander I Land for the reigning Tsar Alexander I of Russia, but it was believed to be part of the Antarctic mainland until 1940. Its insular nature was proven in December 1940, by a sledge party under Finn Ronne of the United States Antarctic Service (USAS).^[1] In the 1950s, a British base administered as part of the British Antarctic Territory was constructed as Fossil Bluff.

The island is now used as a meteorological centre and refuelling base. It is claimed by the United Kingdom, for which it represents their largest remaining overseas island, part of the British Antarctic Territory, while for Chile and Argentina it is part of the Antártica Chilena Province and Tierra del Fuego Province respectively.