Bounty Islands
Map of Bounty Islands
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 Bounty Islands
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| Geography | |
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| Coordinates | 47°45′S 179°03′E / 47.750°S 179.050°ECoordinates: 47°45′S 179°03′E / 47.750°S 179.050°E |
| Area | 1.35 km2 (0.52 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
The Bounty Islands are a small group of 13 uninhabited granite islets and numerous rocks, with a combined area of 135 ha (330 acres), in the south Pacific Ocean that are territorially part of New Zealand. They lie about 670 km (416 mi) east-south-east of the South Island of New Zealand, and 530 km (329 mi) south-west of the Chatham Islands. The group is a World Heritage Site.
Captain William Bligh discovered the Bounty Islands en route from Spithead to Tahiti in 1788 and named them after his ship, HMS Bounty, just months before the famous mutiny. The location of the islands were only roughly marked on charts. In early 1866 Commander W H Norman of HMCS Victoria was tasked with determining more accurately their position. He reported them as being latitude 47ˈ50 South and longitude 179ˈ00 East. Captain George Palmer, during the search for the Matoaka placed the islands at 47ˈ46ˈ24 South 178ˈ56ˈ45 East. Palmer also annexed the islands for New Zealand.
During the 19th century the area were a popular hunting-ground for sealers. The islands were also searched from time to time for missing ships and crews, including those from the General Grant and the Matoaka.
The Hinemoa visited the islands in March 1886 and erected a depot for marooned sailors on the largest island. Captain Fairchild noted that there was no fresh water available on these islands. The depot was destroyed by the sea by the time the Stella visited the island in 1887. A new Admiralty chart 1022 was issued for the area in 1888, which took into account survey work undertaken by the Hinemoa.
In November 1891 the Hinemoa returned to the islands and built a fresh provisions storage.
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Wikipedia