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4 unusual facts about South Orkney Islands


60th parallel south

The closest land is a group of rocks north of Coronation Island (Melson Rocks or Governor Islands) of the South Orkney Islands, which are about 54 km south of the parallel, and Cook Island of the South Sandwich Islands, which is about 57 km north of the parallel.

Chiloé Wigeon

Vagrants have been observed in South Georgia, South Orkney and the South Shetland Islands.

Munditia meridionalis

This species occurs in subantarctic waters off the South Orkney Islands and the South Shetland Islands at depths between 16 m and 18 m.

Territorial claims in Antarctica

The South Orkney Islands fall within the territory claimed by Argentina and the United Kingdom, and the South Shetland Islands fall within the areas claimed by Argentina, Chile, and the United Kingdom.


Callophyllis variegata

But also in New Guinea, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, St. Paul Island (Indian Ocean), Antarctic and subantarctic islands such as the Graham Land, Kerguelen, Macquarie Island, South Georgia, and the South Orkney Islands.

Chinstrap Penguin

The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) is a species of penguin which is found in the South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, Deception Island, the South Orkneys, South Shetland,South Georgia, Bouvet Island and Balleny.

Colobanthus quitensis

It occurs from Mexico until the northern continental edge of Antarctica Antarctic Peninsula, as well as in several Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands (South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands or King George Island).

Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute

This was expanded in 1908, when in addition to South Georgia claimed in 1775, and the South Shetland Islands claimed in 1820 the UK unilaterally declared sovereignty over more Antarctic territory south of the Falklands, including the South Sandwich Islands, the South Orkney Islands, and Graham Land, grouping them into the Falkland Islands Dependencies.

Imperial Shag

South Georgia Shag, Phalacrocorax (atriceps) georgianus, from the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and South Orkney Islands.

Southern Fulmar

There are colonies on a number of the islands around Antarctica such as the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island and Peter I Island.


see also