Gregory Island (Antarctica)

Gregory Island
South polar skuas breed on the island
Gregory Island is located in Antarctica
Gregory Island
Gregory Island
Location in Antarctica
Geography
LocationVictoria Land, Antarctica
Coordinates76°48′51″S 162°57′44″E / 76.81417°S 162.96222°E / -76.81417; 162.96222
Area70 ha (170 acres)
Length1.2 km (0.75 mi)
Width0.8 km (0.5 mi)
Highest elevation100 m (300 ft)
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited

Gregory Island is a small ice-free island lying just off the east coast of Victoria Land, Antarctica, 5 km (3.1 mi) north-east of Cape Archer and 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Cape Ross. It was discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901–04), at which time it was thought to be a coastal point and was named "Gregory Point," for John Walter Gregory, director of the civilian staff of the expedition. It was determined to be an island by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910–13.[1]

Important Bird Area

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A 51 ha site comprising the whole island has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a colony of south polar skuas, with an estimate of about 120 breeding pairs made in 1983. The nearest permanent research station the USA's McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base lying about 150  km to the south-east on Ross Island.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Gregory Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Gregory Island". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
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