Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Antarctica |
Coordinates | 69°01′S 39°33′E / 69.017°S 39.550°E |
Administration | |
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Demographics | |
Population | Uninhabited |
The Flatvaer Islands (Norwegian: Flatvær, meaning "flat islands"), also known as the Ongul Islands, are a group of small islands lying at the east side of the entrance of Lützow-Holm Bay, 4 km from the coastline of Antarctica. They were mapped by Norwegian cartographers from air photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition (LCE), 1936–37.[1] Many of the islands and their features were subsequently named by members of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE); unless otherwise noted, features noted in this article were named by JARE.
The Flatvaer Islands are separated from Lützow-Holm Bay by Ongul Sound, which is 2 mi (3.2 km) wide and named in association with Ongul Island.[2] On its east margin, opposite East Ongul Island, sits a small cluster of rocks called the Mukai Rocks. The name Mukai-iwa, meaning "facing rocks" or "opposite rocks," was given by JARE Headquarters in 1972.[3]