Alexander Island

Alexander Island
Satellite image of Alexander Island
Location of Alexander Island
Alexander Island is located in Antarctica
Alexander Island
Alexander Island
Location in Antarctica
Geography
LocationAntarctica
Coordinates71°00′S 70°00′W / 71.000°S 70.000°W / -71.000; -70.000
Area49,070 km2 (18,950 sq mi)
Area rank28th
Length390 km (242 mi)
Width80 km (50 mi)
Highest elevation2,987 m (9800 ft)
Highest pointMount Stephenson
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population0 (2000)

Alexander Island, which is also known as Alexander I Island, Alexander I Land, Alexander Land, Alexander I Archipelago, and Zemlja Alexandra I, is the largest island of Antarctica. It lies in the Bellingshausen Sea west of Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula from which it is separated by Marguerite Bay and George VI Sound. The George VI Ice Shelf entirely fills George VI Sound and connects Alexander Island to Palmer Land. The island partly surrounds Wilkins Sound, which lies to its west.[1] Alexander Island is about 390 kilometres (240 mi) long in a north–south direction, 80 kilometres (50 mi) wide in the north, and 240 kilometres (150 mi) wide in the south.[2] Alexander Island is the second-largest uninhabited island in the world, after Devon Island.

  1. ^ Stewart, J. (2011) Antarctic An Encyclopedia McFarland & Company Inc, New York. 1776 pp. ISBN 9780786435906.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alexander Island