Difference between revisions of "Balleny Islands"

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[[File:Balleny Map1.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Map of the Balleny Islands]]
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The '''Balleny Islands''' (66°55′S 163°45′E) are a series of uninhabited islands in the [[Southern Ocean]] extending from 66°15' to 67°35'S and 162°30' to 165°00'E. The group extends for about 160 km (99 mi) in a northwest-southeast direction. The islands are heavily glaciated and of volcanic origin. [[Glaciers]] project from their slopes into the sea. The islands were formed by the so-called Balleny hotspot.
|+ style="font-size: 160%; margin-left: inherit;" |'''The Balleny Islands'''
| colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:BALLENYISLANDSFLAG copy.jpg|300px|Flag]]<br/>Flag
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" | <small>Motto: ''A beautiful free land to mint a coin.'' </small>
|-
| '''Government Type'''
| Colonial Administration
|-
| '''Founded'''
| 14 January 2005
|-
| '''Capital'''
| [[Sturge Island]]
|-
| '''Area'''
| 154 sq mi
|-
| '''Governor'''
| His Grace, the [[Duke of Sherman]]
|}
 
The '''Balleny Islands''' (66°55′S 163°45′E) are a series of uninhabited islands in the [[Southern Ocean]] extending from 66°15' to 67°35'S and 162°30' to 165°00'E. The group extends for about 160 km (99 mi) in a northwest-southeast direction. The islands are heavily glaciated and of volcanic origin. [[glacier|Glaciers]] project from their slopes into the sea. The islands were formed by the so-called Balleny hotspot.  They were originally claimed by the United Kingdom, and were then transferred to New Zealand before becoming annexed by Westarctica in 2005.


The group includes three main islands: [[Young Island|Young]], [[Buckle Island|Buckle]] and [[Sturge Island|Sturge]], which lie in a line from northwest to southeast, and several smaller islets and rocks:
The group includes three main islands: [[Young Island|Young]], [[Buckle Island|Buckle]] and [[Sturge Island|Sturge]], which lie in a line from northwest to southeast, and several smaller islets and rocks:


* northeast of Young Island: Seal Rocks, Pillar
* northeast of Young Island: Seal Rocks, Pillar
* southeast of Young Island: Row Island, Borradaile Island (with Swan Base shelter hut)
* southeast of Young Island: Row Island, [[Borradaile Island]]
* south of Buckle Island: Scott Cone, [[Chinstrap Island]], [[Sabrina Island]] (with Sabrina Refuge shelter hut), and [[The Monolith]]
* south of Buckle Island: Scott Cone, [[Chinstrap Island]], [[Sabrina Island]], and [[The Monolith]]


Although claimed by New Zealand, the Balleny Islands were annexed by [[Westarctica]] in 2005. The islands are one of two areas claimed by Westarctica that are not contiguous with its primary territory.
The islands are one of two [[Antarctic]] areas claimed by Westarctica that are not part of the original territory of Marie Byrd Land are are not between 90° and 150° W longitude. The other is [[Peter I Island]], which was claimed by Norway).


==Island and rocks from north to south==
==Island and rocks from north to south==
 
[[File:Balleny Map1.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Map of the Balleny Islands]]
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[[Borradaile Island]] is close to the [[Antarctic Circle]], in the eight kilometer channel between Young and Buckle Islands. [[Buckle Island]] and the nearby [[Sabrina Island]] are home to several colonies of [[Adélie penguin|Adelie]] and [[chinstrap penguin|chinstrap penguins]].
==Description==
[[File:Balleny islands.jpg|thumb|200px|Location of the Balleny Islands in relation to Antarctica]]
The islands are rocky, covered by ice, and extremely difficult to access. In his 2007 book, ''Below the Convergence'', author Alan Gurney describes the Balleny Islands as:
<blockquote>
Girded and guarded by pack ice, shrouded in fogs, virtually inaccessible to any landing from the sea, they present an impregnable fortress face to the Southern Ocean. If Antarctica had a mythology, these bleak and unwelcoming islands would be the home of evil-spirited trolls, wicked goblins, hunchbacked warlocks, and malignant dwarves. There is no joy in them.
</blockquote>
 
[[Borradaile Island]] is close to the [[Antarctic Circle]], in the eight kilometer channel between Young and Buckle Islands. [[Buckle Island]], [[Chinstrap Island]] and nearby [[Sabrina Island]] are home to colonies of [[Adélie penguin|Adélie]] and [[chinstrap penguin|chinstrap penguins]].
 
==Discovery==
The English [[whaling]] captains [[John Balleny]] and Thomas Freeman first sighted the group of islands during 1839: Freeman was the first person to land on any of the islands on 9 February 1839, and it was the first landing south of the Antarctic Circle. The islands' area totals 400 km2 (154 sq mi) and the highest point has been measured as 1,705 m (5,594 ft) or approximately 1500m (5000 feet) (the unclimbed Brown Peak on [[Sturge Island]]).


The English [[whaling]] captains John Balleny and Thomas Freeman first sighted the group during 1839: Freeman was the first person to land on any of the islands on 9 February 1839, and it was the first landing south of the Antarctic Circle. The islands' area totals 400 km2 (154 sq mi) and the highest point has been measured as 1,705 m (5,594 ft) or approximately 1500m (5000 feet) (the unclimbed Brown Peak on [[Sturge Island]]).
[[File:Balleny Islands - 1839 Enderby copy.jpg|thumb|600px|center|1839 etching of the Balleny Islands]]


==Geology==
==Geology==
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==Politics==
==Politics==
[[File:BALLENYISLANDSFLAG copy.jpg|thumb|right|Flag of the Balleny Islands, created by the Marquis of Williamson in 2005.]]
[[File:BALLENYISLANDSFLAG copy.jpg|thumb|right|Flag of the Balleny Islands, created by the Duke of Sherman in 2005.]]
[[Marquis of Williamson|Jorge Fernandez Vidal]] learned about the Balleny Islands while researching unclaimed land in Antarctica. His intention was a find an area or region suitably outside the jurisdiction of other countries, that could be used as a basis for minting coins of his own design.
[[Duke of Sherman|Jorge Fernandez Vidal]] learned about the Balleny Islands while researching unclaimed land in Antarctica. His intention was a find an area or region suitably outside the jurisdiction of other countries that could be used as a basis for minting coins of his own design.


Jorge settled on the Balleny Islands in March 2004, after closely examining the language used in the [[Antarctic Treaty]] and realizing that New Zealand's claim to the Balleny Islands could not be legally recognized by any nation, including their own. Therefore, it was highly unlikely New Zealand would ever mint coins for the islands on their own, and they were equally unlikely to assert any kind of legal jurisdiction if Jorge were to mint coins under the name of the Balleny Islands. In his own words, the islands were: “officially unclaimed. A beautiful free land to mint a coin.”
Vidal settled on the Balleny Islands in March 2004, after closely examining the language used in the [[Antarctic Treaty]] and realizing that New Zealand's claim to the Balleny Islands could not be legally recognized by any nation, including their own. Therefore, it was highly unlikely New Zealand would ever mint coins for the islands on their own, and they were equally unlikely to assert any kind of legal jurisdiction if Vidal were to mint coins under the name of the Balleny Islands. In his own words, the islands were: “officially unclaimed. A beautiful free land to mint a coin.”


The Balleny Islands became a colony when [[Westarctica]] formally annexed it from New Zealand on 14 January 2005. Mr. Vidal was appointed its Governor, and following the first successful minting of the Balleny Islands coin, Jorge was given the title Count of Sturge.
The Balleny Islands became a colony when [[Westarctica]] formally annexed it from New Zealand on 14 January 2005. Vidal was appointed its Governor, and following the first successful minting of the Balleny Islands coin, Vidal was given the title Count of Sturge.


==Symbols of the Islands==
==Symbols of the Islands==
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The Balleny Islands coins were the first [[Coins of Westarctica|coins]] minted by the [[Central Bank of Westarctica|Central Bank]], they were released in early 2005, shortly after the creation of the bank itself. The obverse of the coin shows Westarctica's original coat of arms as designed by [[Duke of Moulton-Berlin|Jon-Lawrence Langer]]. On the reverse is a map of the Balleny Islands showing the islands Young, Buckle, and Sturge. It was released in two different metals (bronze and silver), but otherwise, the two coins of the series are identical.
The Balleny Islands coins were the first [[Coins of Westarctica|coins]] minted by the [[Central Bank of Westarctica|Central Bank]], they were released in early 2005, shortly after the creation of the bank itself. The obverse of the coin shows Westarctica's original coat of arms as designed by [[Duke of Moulton-Berlin|Jon-Lawrence Langer]]. On the reverse is a map of the Balleny Islands showing the islands Young, Buckle, and Sturge. It was released in two different metals (bronze and silver), but otherwise, the two coins of the series are identical.


===Stamps===
In 2005, Inzander Berenku, from the Sultanate of Occussi-Ambeno requested permission to create [[Stamps of Westarctica|stamps]] for the Balleny Islands. To assist in the creation of the stamps, Grand Duke Travis posed for a portrait and made it available for usage on the stamps. The stamps themselves each feature a different Westarctican animal along with a picture of the Grand Duke.
Although officially licensed by Westarctica, they are not considered to be part of the collection of official Westarctican postage stamps. These unusual, quasi-legal stamps can occasionally be found for sale by collectors online.
[[File:Coin-Balleny Island 1 2005 Bronze.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Balleny Islands Coin]]
[[File:Coin-Balleny Island 1 2005 Bronze.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Balleny Islands Coin]]
 
[[File:Balleny Islands - Krill.jpg|thumb|right|The collection of four stamps.]]




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