Vardim Rocks

Vardim Rocks
Location of Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands
Map
Geography
LocationAntarctica
Coordinates62°40′28″S 61°11′00″W / 62.67444°S 61.18333°W / -62.67444; -61.18333
ArchipelagoSouth Shetland Islands
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited
Devils Point from Lucifer Crags, with Hell Gates and Vardim Rocks in the middle ground, Long Rock in Morton Strait and Snow Island in the background, and Smith Island seen on the right horizon
Map of Antarctic Specially Protected Area ASPA 126 Byers Peninsula featuring Vardim Rocks
Topographic map of Livingston Island

Vardim Rocks (Bulgarian: скали Вардим, ‘Skali Vardim’ ska-'li 'var-dim) are a group of rocks situated on the south side of Hell Gates, facing Devils Point in the southwest extremity of Byers Peninsula on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.[1] Extending 1.3 km (0.81 mi) in east-west direction. The two principal islets in the group, Demon and Sprite, are extending 420 by 400 m (460 by 440 yd) and 270 by 150 m (300 by 160 yd) respectively, with surface area of the former 9 hectares (22 acres).[2] The area was visited by early 19th century sealers.

The group includes the small islands of Demon (62°40′26″S 61°10′55″W / 62.67389°S 61.18194°W / -62.67389; -61.18194), Sprite (62°40′23″S 61°11′31″W / 62.67306°S 61.19194°W / -62.67306; -61.19194), and Imp (62°40′20″S 61°12′00″W / 62.67222°S 61.20000°W / -62.67222; -61.20000).[3][4][5]

The rocks are named after the village of Vardim and the neighboring Vardim Island which is located on the Danube River in northern Bulgaria. Demon, Sprite and Imp islands are so named to reflect their proximity to Devils Point.

  1. ^ Vardim Rocks. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer.
  2. ^ L.L. Ivanov. Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich, Robert, Snow and Smith Islands. Scale 1:120000 topographic map. Troyan: Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2010. ISBN 978-954-92032-9-5 (First edition 2009. ISBN 978-954-92032-6-4)
  3. ^ Demon Island. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer.
  4. ^ Sprite Island. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer.
  5. ^ Imp Island. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer.