Thurston Island

Thurston

Map of Thurston Island
Thurston Location of Thurston Island
Geography
Location	Antarctica
Coordinates	72°6′S 99°0′W / 72.100°S 99.000°W / -72.100; -99.000Coordinates: 72°6′S 99°0′W / 72.100°S 99.000°W / -72.100; -99.000
Area	15,700 km2 (6,100 sq mi)
Area rank	56th
Length	215 km (133.6 mi)
Width	90 km (56 mi)
Highest elevation	750 m (2,460 ft)
Highest point	Mount Howell
Administration
None
Additional information
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System

Thurston Island is an ice-covered, glacially dissected island, 215 km (134 mi) long, 90 km (56 mi) wide and 15,700 km² (6,062 sq mi) in area, lying a short way off the northwest end of Ellsworth Land, Antarctica. It is the third largest island of Antarctica, after Alexander Island and Berkner Island.

Thurston Island is separated from the mainland by Peacock Sound, which is occupied by the western portion of Abbot Ice Shelf. It divides Bellingshausen Sea to the east from Amundsen Sea to the west.

The island was discovered from the air by Rear Admiral Byrd on February 27, 1940, who named it for W. Harris Thurston, New York textile manufacturer, designer of the windproof "Byrd Cloth" and sponsor of Antarctic expeditions.

Originally charted as a peninsula, the feature was not recognised an island until 1960.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Thurston Island" (content from the Geographic Names Information System).