Gregory Island (Gregory Island)
Gregory Island is a small ice-free island lying just off the east coast of Victoria Land, Antarctica, 5 km north-east of Cape Archer and 8 km south of Cape Ross. It was discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901–04), at which time it was thought to be a coastal point and was named "Gregory Point," for John Walter Gregory, director of the civilian staff of the expedition. It was determined to be an island by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910–13.
A 51 ha site comprising the whole island has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a colony of south polar skuas, with an estimate of about 120 breeding pairs made in 1983. The nearest permanent research station the USA's McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base lying about 150 km to the south-east on Ross Island.
A 51 ha site comprising the whole island has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a colony of south polar skuas, with an estimate of about 120 breeding pairs made in 1983. The nearest permanent research station the USA's McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base lying about 150 km to the south-east on Ross Island.
Map - Gregory Island (Gregory Island)
Map
Country - Antarctica
Antarctica is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent, being about 40% larger than Europe, and has an area of 14200000 km2. Most of Antarctica is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, with an average thickness of 1.9 km.
Antarctica is, on average, the coldest, driest, and windiest of the continents, and it has the highest average elevation. It is mainly a polar desert, with annual precipitation of over 200 mm along the coast and far less inland. About 70% of the world's freshwater reserves are frozen in Antarctica, which, if melted, would raise global sea levels by almost 60 m. Antarctica holds the record for the lowest measured temperature on Earth, −89.2 C. The coastal regions can reach temperatures over 10 C in summer. Native species of animals include mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades. Where vegetation occurs, it is mostly in the form of lichen or moss.
Antarctica is, on average, the coldest, driest, and windiest of the continents, and it has the highest average elevation. It is mainly a polar desert, with annual precipitation of over 200 mm along the coast and far less inland. About 70% of the world's freshwater reserves are frozen in Antarctica, which, if melted, would raise global sea levels by almost 60 m. Antarctica holds the record for the lowest measured temperature on Earth, −89.2 C. The coastal regions can reach temperatures over 10 C in summer. Native species of animals include mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades. Where vegetation occurs, it is mostly in the form of lichen or moss.