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'''Peter I Island''' is an uninhabited 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]]. [[File:Peter I Island22.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Peter I Island]] It is also claimed as a dependency of Norway. 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 seals. | '''Peter I Island''' is an uninhabited 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]]. [[File:Peter I Island22.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Peter I Island]] It is also claimed as a dependency of Norway. 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 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 | 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 the Second ''Norvegia'' Expedition, financed by [[Lars Christensen]], was successful. The expedition claimed the island 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-peditions have visited the island and there are sporadic landings by tourists. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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 | 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 25 kilometers 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 5 kilometers from the island by pack ice. | ||
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. | 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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== Geography == | == Geography == | ||
Peter I Island is a volcanic island located | Peter I Island is a volcanic island located 450 kilometers off the coast of [[Ellsworth Land]] of continental Antarctica. 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 | 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 | 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. | ||
== Environment == | == Environment == | ||
[[File:Map_Peter_I_Island.jpg|thumb|Map of the island.]] | [[File:Map_Peter_I_Island.jpg|thumb|Map of the island.]] | ||
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 breeding ground for a few | 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 breeding ground for a few seabirds, particularly [[southern fulmar]]s, but also [[Wilson's storm petrel]]s and [[Antarctic tern]]s. Penguins, including [[Adélie penguin|Adélie]] and [[chinstrap penguin]]s, visit the island infrequently. There are numerous seals, particularly [[crabeater seal]]s, [[leopard seal]]s and smaller numbers of [[southern elephant seal]]s. | ||
== Politics == | == Politics == | ||
[[Category:Peter I Island]] | [[Category:Peter I Island]] | ||
[[Category:Volcanoes of | [[Category:Volcanoes]] | ||
[[Category:Islands of Westarctica]] | |||
[[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | ||