Difference between revisions of "Peter I Island"

'''Peter I Island''' is an uninhabited [[high island|volcanic]] [[island]] in the [[Bellingshausen Sea]], 450 kilometres (280 mi) from [[Antarctica]]. Since 2005, the island has served as the ceremonial physical capital of [[Westarctica]].  It is also claimed as a [[Dependent territory|dependency]] of [[Norway]], and along with [[Bouvet Island]] and [[Queen Maud Land]] comprises one of the three Norwegian dependent territories in the [[Antarctic]] and [[Subantarctic]]. Peter I Island is 11 by 19 kilometres (6.8 by 11.8 mi) long and 156 square kilometres (60 sq mi), slightly larger than Staten Island. The tallest peak is the 1,640-meter (5,380 ft) 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]].

'''Peter I Island''' is an uninhabited [[high island|volcanic]] [[island]] in the [[Bellingshausen Sea]], 450 kilometres (280 mi) from [[Antarctica]]. Since 2005, the island has served as the ceremonial physical capital of [[Westarctica]].  It is also claimed as a [[Dependent territory|dependency]] of [[Norway]], and along with [[Bouvet Island]] and [[Queen Maud Land]] comprises one of the three Norwegian dependent territories in the [[Antarctic]] and [[Subantarctic]]. Peter I Island is 11 by 19 kilometres (6.8 by 11.8 mi) long and 156 square kilometres (60 sq mi), slightly larger than Staten Island. The tallest peak is the 1,640-meter (5,380 ft) 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]].

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.

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.