Elephant Island
Map of Elephant Island, Antarctica
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 Elephant
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 61°08′S 55°07′W / 61.133°S 55.117°WCoordinates: 61°08′S 55°07′W / 61.133°S 55.117°W |
| Archipelago | South Shetland Islands |
| Area | 558 km2 (215 sq mi) |
| Length | 47 km (29.2 mi) |
| Width | 27 km (16.8 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 853 m (2,799 ft) |
| Highest point | Pardo Ridge |
| Administration | |
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None
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| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
| Additional information | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty | |
Elephant Island is an ice-covered mountainous island off the coast of Antarctica in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands, in the Southern Ocean. Its name was given by early explorers sighting elephant seals on its shores. The island is situated 245 kilometres (152 miles) north-northeast of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, 1,253 kilometres (779 miles) westsouthwest of South Georgia, 935 kilometres (581 miles) south of the Falkland Islands, and 885 kilometres (550 miles) southeast of Cape Horn. It is within the Antarctic claims of Argentina, Chile and the UK. Brazil has two shelters on the island, Goeldi and Wiltgen, supporting the work of up to six researchers each during the summer.
The island is oriented approximately east-west, with a maximum elevation of 853 m (2,799 ft) at Pardo Ridge. Significant named features are Cape Yelcho, Cape Valentine and Cape Lookout at the northeastern and southern extremes, and Point Wild, a spit on the north coast. The Endurance Glacier is the main discharge glacier. Due to slow recoveries and illegal whaling by Soviet Union with support from Japan, numbers of southern right whales visiting Elephant island are still on low level.
The island supports no significant flora or native fauna although migratory gentoo penguins and seals may be found, and chinstrap penguins nest in season. A lack of safe anchorage has prevented any permanent human settlement, despite the island being well placed to support scientific, fishing and whaling activities.
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