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Difference between revisions of "Peter I Island"
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Peter I Island is a volcanic island located 450 kilometers off the coast of the [[Ellsworth Land]] region of Westarctica's mainland. It has an area of 154km2. The island is almost entirely covered by glacier, with about 95% of the total surface covered by ice. | Peter I Island is a volcanic island located 450 kilometers off the coast of the [[Ellsworth Land]] region of Westarctica's mainland. It has an area of 154km2. The island is almost entirely covered by glacier, with about 95% of the total surface covered by ice. | ||
Surrounding the island is a 40 meter 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, a peninsula which divides the bays Norvegia Bay and Sandefjord Cove. On the cape are some narrow strips of beach, which are suitable for landing. The beach in ''Norvegiabukta'' is just 4 meters 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. | Surrounding the island is a 40 meter 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, a peninsula which divides the bays [[Norvegia Bay]] and [[Sandefjord Cove]]. On the cape are some narrow strips of beach, which are suitable for landing. The beach in ''Norvegiabukta'' is just 4 meters 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. | ||
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 100,000 - 350,000 years ago. The summit, [[Lars Christensen Peak]], is a 100 meter wide circular crater. An ultra prominent peak at 1,640 meters 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. | 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 100,000 - 350,000 years ago. The summit, [[Lars Christensen Peak]], is a 100 meter wide circular crater. An ultra prominent peak at 1,640 meters 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. | ||