Difference between revisions of "Template:Westarctica.wiki:Today's featured article"

From Encyclopedia Westarctica
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(169 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Admiral Bellingshausen.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
[[File:Balleny Map1.jpg|250px|left]]
'''[[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen]]''', a [[Foreign relations of Westarctica|Russian]] officer of Baltic German descent in the Imperial Russian Navy, cartographer and explorer, ultimately rose to the rank of Admiral. He participated in the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe and subsequently became a leader of another circumnavigation expedition which discovered the continent of [[Antarctica]].
The '''[[Balleny Islands]]''' 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.


As a prominent cartographer, Bellingshausen was appointed to command the Russian circumnavigation of the globe in 1819-1821, intended to explore the [[Southern Ocean]] and to find land in the proximity of the [[South Pole]]. Mikhail Lazarev prepared the expedition and was made Bellingshausen's second-in-command and the captain of the sloop ''Mirny'', while Bellingshausen himself commanded the sloop ''Vostok''.
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. On 15 March 2024, [[Grand Duke Travis]] appointed his son, [[Crown Prince Ashton Roman]] as [[Viceroy]] of the Balleny Islands. This position is currently the highest authority in the islands and exercises the power of the Westarctican Crown within the colony. The viceroy has the authority to dismiss the governor if he wishes.


During this expedition Bellingshausen and Lazarev became the first explorers to see the land of [[Antarctica]] on 27 January 1820. They circumnavigated the continent twice and never lost each other from view. Thus they disproved Captain Cook's assertion that it was impossible to find land in the southern ice-fields. The expedition discovered and named [[Peter I Island]], the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] and made other discoveries in the tropical waters of the Pacific.
'''([[Balleny Islands|Full Article...]])'''
 
'''([[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 16:18, 19 May 2024

Balleny Map1.jpg

The Balleny Islands 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. 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, Buckle and Sturge, which lie in a line from northwest to southeast, and several smaller islets and rocks. On 15 March 2024, Grand Duke Travis appointed his son, Crown Prince Ashton Roman as Viceroy of the Balleny Islands. This position is currently the highest authority in the islands and exercises the power of the Westarctican Crown within the colony. The viceroy has the authority to dismiss the governor if he wishes.

(Full Article...)