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Archipelago

    Deception Island

    Isla Decepción

    62°56′S 60°33′W

    Deception Island is in the South Shetland Islands close to the Antarctic Peninsula with a large and usually "safe" natural harbour, which is occasionally affected by the underlying active volcano. This island is the caldera of an active volcano, which seriously damaged local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969.

    Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, on an iceberg.
    Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, on an iceberg.

    Godot13 / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Terrain

    62°56′S 60°33′W

    Terrain exaggerated for relief. Drag to look around.

    Overview

    Deception Island is in the South Shetland Islands close to the Antarctic Peninsula with a large and usually "safe" natural harbour, which is occasionally affected by the underlying active volcano. This island is the caldera of an active volcano, which seriously damaged local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. The island previously held a whaling station. It has now become a tourist destination, attracting over 15,000 visitors annually. Two research stations are operated by Argentina and Spain during the summer season. While various countries have asserted sovereignty, it is still administered under the Antarctic Treaty System, meaning it is under no control.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    Nearest islands

    Also in South Shetland Islands

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Talus
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs