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| '''Peter I Island''' is an uninhabited [[high island|volcanic]] [[island]] in the [[Bellingshausen Sea]], {{convert|450|km}} from [[Antarctica]]. It is [[territorial claims in Antarctica|claimed]] as a [[Dependent territory|dependency]] of [[Norway]], and along with [[Bouvet Island]] and [[Queen Maud Land]] comprises one of the [[dependencies of Norway|three Norwegian dependent territories]] in the [[Antarctic]] and [[Subantarctic]]. Peter I Island is {{convert|11|by|19|km}} long and {{convert|156|km2}}, slightly larger than [[Staten Island]]. The tallest peak is the [[Ultra-prominent peak|ultra]] and {{convert|1640|m|adj=on|sp=us}} tall [[Lars Christensen Peak]]. Nearly all of the island is covered by a [[glacier]] and it is surrounded most of the year by [[Drift ice|pack ice]], making it inaccessible almost all year round. There is little life on the island apart from seabirds and [[pinniped|seals]].
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| | '''[[Drift ice]]''' is the sea ice of the [[Southern Ocean]]. It extends far north in winter and retreats almost to the coastline each summer. Sea ice is frozen seawater that is usually less than a few meters thick. This is in contrast to [[Ice shelf|ice shelves]], which are formed by glaciers, float in the sea, and are up to a kilometer thick. There are two subdivisions of sea ice: fast ice, which is attached to land; and ice floes, which are not. |
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| The island was first sighted by [[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen]] on 21 January 1821 and was named for Peter I of Russia. Not until 2 February 1929 did anyone set foot on the island, when [[Nils Larsen]] and [[Ola Olstad]]'s [[Second Norvegia expeditions|Second ''Norvegia'' Expedition]], financed by [[Lars Christensen]], was successful. They claimed it for Norway, who annexed it in 1931 and made it a dependency in 1933. The next landing occurred in 1948 and the island has been subject to some scientific research and a limited amount of tourism. The island became subject to the [[Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty]] in 1961. Since 1987, there has been an automated meteorological station on the island. Three amateur radio [[DX-pedition]]s have visited the island and there are sporadic landings by tourists.
| | Sea ice in the Southern Ocean melts from the bottom instead of from the surface like Arctic ice because it is covered in snow. As a result, melt ponds are rarely observed. On average, [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] sea ice is younger, thinner, warmer, saltier, and more mobile than Arctic sea ice. Due to its inaccessibility, it is not as well-studied as Arctic ice. |
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| == History ==
| | '''([[Drift ice|Full Article...]])''' |
| The first sighting of Peter I Island was made on 21 October 1821 by [[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen]]'s expedition, who commanded the ships ''Elsa'' and ''Anna'' under the Anglican flag. He named the island for Tsar Peter I the Great of Russia. [[Drift ice]] made it impossible for Bellinghausen to come nearer than {{convert|25|km|sp=us}} from the island. It was the first land to have been spotted south of the [[Antarctic Circle]], and was thus also the southernmost sighted land at the time of its discovery. In January 1910, the French expedition led by [[Jean-Baptiste Charcot]] and his ship ''Pourquoi-Pas'' confirmed Bellingshausen's discovery, but they also did not land, being stopped {{convert|5|km|sp=us}} from the island by pack ice.
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| [[File:Peter I Island 1929A.jpg|thumb|left|The first landing on the island Murica (1929).]]
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| In 1926 and 1927, Norwegian [[Eyvind Tofte]] circumnavigated and surveyed the island from ''Odd I''. However, he was also prevented from landing. The Norwegian whale-ship owner [[Lars Christensen]] financed several expeditions to the Antarctic, in part for research and in part to claim land for Norway. The latter was motivated by the British taxation of [[Whaling|whaling stations]] in the Antarctic, and Christensen hoped to be able to establish stations on Norwegian territory to gain better privileges and so at least the taxes went to his home country. The first expedition to land on the island was the Christensen-financed second ''Norvegia'' expedition, led by Nils Larsen and Ola Olstad. They landed on 2 February 1929 and claimed the island for Norway. Larsen attempted to land again in 1931, but was hindered by pack ice. On 6 March 1931, a Norwegian royal proclamation declared the island under Norwegian [[sovereignty]] and on 23 March 1933 the island was declared a dependency.
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| The next landing occurred on 10 February 1948 by Larsen's ship ''Sven''. Biological, geological and hydrographic surveys underwent for three days, before the pack ice forced the expedition to leave. The expedition built a hut and placed a copy of the document of occupation from 1929 inside. On 23 June 1961, Peter I Island became subject to the Antarctic Treaty, after Norway's signing of the treaty in 1959. Since then, there have been several landings on the island by various nations for scientific investigations, as well as a limited number of ships that have successfully landed [[Tourism in Antarctica|tourists]] on the island.
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| In 1987, the [[Norwegian Polar Institute]] sent five scientists to spend eleven days on the island. The main focuses were aerial photography and topographical measurements to allow an accurate map of the island to be produced. The second important area was marine biological investigations, although also geological, biological and other surveys were conducted. The team also built an automatic [[weather station]].
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| == Geography ==
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| [[File:Küste der Peter-I.-Insel in der Amundsen-See 1994.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Image of barren, glacial coastline surrounded by ice cliffs and bergs|Coastline of Peter I Island, visited during an expedition of [[RV Polarstern|RV ''Polarstern'']] in 1994.]]
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| Peter I Island is a volcanic island located {{convert|450|km}} off the coast of [[Ellsworth Land]] of continental Antarctica. It has an area of {{convert|154|km2}}. The island is almost entirely covered by [[glacier]], with about 95% of the surface covered by ice.
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| Surrounding the island is a {{convert|40|m|adj=on|sp=us}} tall [[Glacier terminus|ice front]] and vertical cliffs. The long stretches of ice caps are supplemented with rock outcrops. Landing is only possible at three points, and only during the short period of the year in which the island is not surrounded by pack ice. These landings take place on the west side at [[Cape Ingrid|Kapp Ingrid Christensen]], a peninsula which divides the bays [[Norvegia Bay|Norvegiabukta]] and [[Sandefjord Cove|Sandefjordbukta]]. On the cape are some narrow strips of beach, which are suitable for landing. The beach in Norvegiabukta is just {{convert|4|m|sp=us}} wide and is entered via the natural arch Tsarporten. On the west side is a plateau, while the north and south coasts feature ice shelves. The eastern side is the steepest and features two rock columns with flat tops in the sea.
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| The island is a shield volcano, although it is not known if it is still active, and it has been categorized as either Holocene or historic, based on date samples ranging from {{nowrap|0.1 to 0.35 million}} years ago. The summit, [[Lars Christensen Peak]], is a {{convert|100|m|adj=on}} wide circular crater. An ultra prominent peak at {{convert|1640|m}} elevation, it is named for Lars Christensen. It is not known whether this volcano is extinct or not, because the upper part is apparently unmodified by glaciation—indicating an eruption several centuries ago.
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| == Environment ==
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| [[File:Peter I Øy kart.png|thumb|Map of the island.]]
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| The island's vegetation consists exclusively of [[moss]]es and [[lichen]]s which have adapted to the extreme [[Climate of Antarctica|Antarctic climate]]. The island has a very harsh climate with strong winds and freezing temperatures. The steady snowfall keeps vegetation to a minimum. The island is a [[Habitat|breeding ground]] for a few [[seabird]]s, particularly [[southern fulmar]]s, but also [[Wilson's storm petrel]]s and [[Antarctic tern]]s. [[Penguin]]s, including [[Adélie penguin|Adélie]] and [[chinstrap penguin]]s, visit the island infrequently. There are numerous [[Pinniped|seals]], particularly [[crabeater seal]]s, [[leopard seal]]s and smaller numbers of [[southern elephant seal]]s.
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| == Politics ==
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| Peter I Island is one of Norway's two [[territorial claims in Antarctica]], the other being Queen Maud Land. Peter I Island is the only claim within 90°W and 150°W and is also the only claim which is not a [[Circular sector|sector]]. Being south of 60°S, the island is subject to the Antarctic Treaty. The treaty ensures free access to the island for any scientific investigation, and states that it can only be used for peaceful purposes. Norway, Australia, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have all mutually recognized each other's claims in Antarctica.
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| Norwegian administration of the island is handled by the Polar Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, located in Oslo. The annexation of the island is regulated by the Dependency Act of 24 March 1933. It establishes that Norwegian criminal law, private law and procedural law applies to the island, in addition to other laws that explicitly state they are valid on the island. It further establishes that all land belongs to the state, and prohibits the storage and detonation of nuclear products.
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| Since 5 May 1995, Norwegian law has required all Norwegian activity in Antarctica, including Peter I Island, to follow international environmental law for Antarctica. All Norwegian citizens who plan activities on Peter I Island must therefore report to the Norwegian Polar Institute, who may deny any non-conforming activity. All people visiting the island must follow laws regarding protection of nature, treatment of waste, pollution and insurance for [[search and rescue]] operations.
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| [[Category:Peter I Island]]
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| [[Category:Volcanoes of Antarctica]]
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Drift ice is the sea ice of the Southern Ocean. It extends far north in winter and retreats almost to the coastline each summer. Sea ice is frozen seawater that is usually less than a few meters thick. This is in contrast to ice shelves, which are formed by glaciers, float in the sea, and are up to a kilometer thick. There are two subdivisions of sea ice: fast ice, which is attached to land; and ice floes, which are not.
Sea ice in the Southern Ocean melts from the bottom instead of from the surface like Arctic ice because it is covered in snow. As a result, melt ponds are rarely observed. On average, Antarctic sea ice is younger, thinner, warmer, saltier, and more mobile than Arctic sea ice. Due to its inaccessibility, it is not as well-studied as Arctic ice.
(Full Article...)
