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[[File:SturgeIsland-Balleny.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Coast of Sturge Island]] | [[File:SturgeIsland-Balleny.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Coast of Sturge Island]] | ||
'''Sturge Island''' (67°25′S 164°44′E) is | '''Sturge Island''' (67°25′S 164°44′E) is the largest island in the uninhabited [[Balleny Islands]] group located in the [[Southern Ocean]]. It lies 25 kilometers (16 mi) southeast of [[Buckle Island]] and 95 kilometers (59 mi) northeast of Belousov Point on the [[Antarctic]] mainland. The islands were discovered by John Balleny in 1839. | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
The island is roughly a parallelogram in shape, with long east and west coasts and shorter coasts facing northwest and southeast. It is approximately 5 nautical miles (5.8 mi) in width, and its maximum length is 20 nautical miles (23 mi), between Cape Freeman in the north and Cape Smyth in the south. | The island is roughly a parallelogram in shape, with long east and west coasts and shorter coasts facing northwest and southeast. It is approximately 5 nautical miles (5.8 mi) in width, and its maximum length is 20 nautical miles (23 mi), between Cape Freeman in the north and Cape Smyth in the south. | ||
The island's highest point reaches 1,705 m (5,594 ft) or 1,524 m (5,000 ft) (the unclimbed Brown Peak). This is the highest point in the Balleny chain. | The island's highest point reaches 1,705 m (5,594 ft) or 1,524 m (5,000 ft) (the unclimbed Brown Peak). This is the highest point in the Balleny chain. Brown Peak is a stratovolcano and is situated on the northern part of Sturge Island. John Balleny discovered Brown Peak in February 1839, and named it for W. Brown, a merchant who provided financial support to the Enderby Brothers' expedition. In 1841, Captain [[James Clark Ross]], who sighted the islands on his own expedition to [[Antarctica]], gave it the name "Russell Peak." | ||
==Annexation by Westarctica== | ==Annexation by Westarctica== | ||
Sturge Island was annexed by [[Westarctica]] on | [[File:Sturge-CoatofArms.jpg|thumb|right|Original coat of arms for the Count of Sturge]] | ||
Sturge Island was annexed by [[Westarctica]] on 14 January 2005 when it annexed the entire [[Balleny Islands]] group. | |||
As a member of the Balleny Islands, Sturge Island is governed by the [[ | As a member of the Balleny Islands, Sturge Island is governed by the [[Duke of Sherman]], who has served as Governor of the Balleny Islands since they were originally annexed from New Zealand. His original title was [[Duke of Sherman|Count of Sturge]], which draws its name from the island. | ||
The island has been featured on two of Westarctica's [[Coins of Westarctica|coins]]: the first was a bronze $1 WAD coin minted in 2005 by the [[Central Bank of Westarctica]] and shows Sturge Island on a map of the Balleny Islands. The second coin was a copper $2 WAD coin minted in 2012. That coin has an image of two [[orca|orcas]] instead of the island itself. | The island has been featured on two of Westarctica's [[Coins of Westarctica|coins]]: the first was a bronze $1 WAD coin minted in 2005 by the [[Central Bank of Westarctica]] and shows Sturge Island on a map of the Balleny Islands. The second coin was a copper $2 WAD coin minted in 2012. That coin has an image of two [[orca|orcas]] instead of the island itself. | ||
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[[Category:Balleny Islands]] | [[Category:Balleny Islands]] | ||
[[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | ||
[[Category:Featured Articles]] |