Deception Island

Deception Island
Satellite image of the island by Sentinel-2 (March 2023)
Deception Island is located in South Shetland Islands
Deception Island
Deception Island
Location in the South Shetland Islands
Deception Island is located in Antarctica
Deception Island
Deception Island
Location in Antarctica
Geography
LocationAntarctica
Coordinates62°57′30″S 60°38′30″W / 62.95833°S 60.64167°W / -62.95833; -60.64167
Area79 km2 (31 sq mi)
Length12 km (7.5 mi)
Width12 km (7.5 mi)
Highest elevation542 m (1778 ft)
Highest pointMount Pond
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population0
Surgidero Iquique Lighthouse Edit this at Wikidata
Constructionconcrete (foundation), fiberglass (tower) Edit this on Wikidata
Height4.5 m (15 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapecylinder Edit this on Wikidata
Markingsstripe (white, orange, horizontal direction) Edit this on Wikidata
Power sourcesolar power Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height114 m (374 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Range5 nmi (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl W 5s Edit this on Wikidata
Deception Island map with the topography and the location of the stations and protected zones

Deception Island is in the South Shetland Islands close to the Antarctic Peninsula with a large and usually "safe" natural harbor, which is occasionally affected by the underlying active volcano.[1][better source needed] This island is the caldera of an active volcano, which seriously damaged local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. The island previously held a whaling station. It is now a tourist destination with over 15,000 visitors per year.[citation needed] Two research stations are operated by Argentina and Spain during the summer season.[2] While various countries have asserted sovereignty, it is still administered under the Antarctic Treaty System.

  1. ^ Djajkovski, Petar (30 March 2017). "Deception Island: The "safest" harbor in Antarctica until it was abandoned in the 1960s". Abandoned Spaces.
  2. ^ Geyer, A.; Álvarez-Valero, A.M.; Gisbert, G.; Aulinas, M.; Hernández-Barreña, D.; Lobo, A.; Marti, J. (23 January 2019). "Deciphering the evolution of Deception Island's magmatic system". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 373. Bibcode:2019NatSR...9..373G. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-36188-4. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 6344569. PMID 30674998.