Ross Island (77°30′S 168°00′E / 77.500°S 168.000°E / -77.500; 168.000) is an island in Antarctica lying on the east side of McMurdo Sound and extending 43 nautical miles (80 km; 49 mi) from Cape Bird on the north to Cape Armitage on the south, and a like distance from Cape Royds on the west to Cape Crozier on the east. The island is entirely volcanic. Mount Erebus, 3,795 metres (12,451 ft), near the center, is an active volcano. Mount Terror, 3,230 metres (10,600 ft), about 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) eastward, is an extinct volcano. Mount Bird rises to 1,765 metres (5,791 ft) just south of Cape Bird.[1] Ross Island lies within the boundary of Ross Dependency, an area of Antarctica claimed by New Zealand.
South end of Ross Island, with the pyramidal Observation Hill at the center of the image, between McMurdo Station and Scott Base. Crater Hill is visible to the right.
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  Ross Island
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 77°30′S 168°00′E / 77.500°S 168.000°E / -77.500; 168.000 |
| Archipelago | Ross Archipelago |
| Area | 2,460 km2 (950 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 3,794 m (12448 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Erebus |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | At least 100 |
This area was discovered by Sir James Clark Ross in 1841, but he thought it formed part of the mainland of Victoria Land. It was determined to be an island and named by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901-04), led by Robert Falcon Scott, for Sir James Clark Ross.[1] Ross Island was the base for many of the early expeditions to Antarctica. It is the southernmost island reachable by sea. Huts built by Scott's and Shackleton's expeditions are still standing on the island, preserved as historical sites.
Today Ross Island is home to New Zealand's Scott Base and to the largest Antarctic settlement, the United States Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station. Greenpeace established World Park Base on the island and ran it for five years, from 1987 to 1992.
Because of the persistent presence of the ice sheet, the island is sometimes taken to be part of the Antarctic mainland. Only a small portion of the island is free of ice and snow. Its area is 2,460 square kilometres (950 sq mi). Despite its relatively small size, Ross Island is the world's 6th highest island and the highest island in Antarctica. It has the highest average elevation of any island.[citation needed]
Major volcanic peaks include, from west to east, Mount Bird, Mount Erebus, Mount Terra Nova and Mount Terror.[2] Mount Erebus is (3,794 metres (12,448 ft)) is the planet's southernmost active volcano. The dormant volcano Mount Terror (3,230 metres (10,600 ft)), is the second highest on the island. They were named by Captain James Ross after his ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The third highest elevation is Mount Bird, with Shell Glacier and Endeavour Piedmont Glacier on its slopes.[3]
The Erebus hotspot is thought to be responsible for the island's volcanic activity.[4]
The base of the Hut Point Peninsula is home to McMurdo Station and Scott Base. Scott's Hut is further north on the west coast, at Cape Evans. North of this at Cape RoydsisShackleton's Hut. Finally, the Cape Bird Hut is just south of Cape Bird.[2]
Capes and peninsulas include, clockwise from the south, the Hut Point Peninsula, Cape Evans, Cape Royds, Cape Bird, Cape Tennyson, Cape Crozier and Cape MacKay.[2]
Large bays include Erebus Bay, Wohlschlag Bay, Lewis Bay and Windless Bight.[2]
Major glaciers entering the sea or ice cap around the island include, clockwise from the south, Erebus Glacier and the Erebus Glacier Tongue, Barne Glacier, Shell Glacier, Terror Glacier and Aurora Glacier.[2]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Board on Geographic Names.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey.
