Elephant Island (South Shetland Islands)
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A NASA satellite photograph of Elephant Island |
Elephant Island is an ice-covered, mountainous island off the coast of
Antarctica in the outer reaches of the
South Shetland Islands in the
Southern Ocean. It lies at latitude , 1300 kilometers southwest of
South Georgia.
The island is approximately 10 km by 2 km in an east to west orientation, with a maximum elevation of 2795 feet (852 m) above sea level at
Pardo Ridge. Significant named features of the island are
Cape Yelcho,
Cape Valentine and
Cape Lookout at its northeastern and southernmost extremes, and
Point Wild, a spit of land on its northern coast.
The island supports no significant flora or native fauna although migratory
Gentoo penguins and seals may be found on its shores, and
Chinstrap penguins nest there in season. A lack of safe
anchorage has prevented any permanent human settlements being formed, despite the island being well placed to support scientific,
fishing and
whaling activities in the area.
The island is most famous as the refuge of
Ernest Shackleton's crew in
1916 following the loss of their ship
Endurance in Antarctic ice. Shackleton left his second in command,
Frank Wild in charge of 21 men on Elephant Island for more than four months while he sailed across open ocean with five other men to
South Georgia and led attempts to return with a rescue ship. Because the island had no natural source of shelter, the stranded men constructed a shack from their remaining two lifeboats and scraps of canvas. They also composed the following verses out of gratitude for Wild's leadership:
My name is Frankie Wild-o.Me hut's on Elephant Isle.The wall's without a single brickAnd the roof's without a tile.Nevertheless I must confess,By many and many a mile,It's the most palatial dwelling placeYou'll find on Elephant Isle.It's the most palatial dwelling placeYou'll find on Elephant Isle.Finally, the rescue was performed by the ship Yelcho, from
Punta Arenas (
Chile), commanded by
Luis Pardo,
August 30,
1916.
