Ross Island

Infobox Islands
name = Ross


image caption = Map of Ross Island
locator

map_custom = no
nickname =
location = Antarctica
coordinates = coord|77|40|S|168|00|E|type:isle|display=inline,title
archipelago =
total islands =
major islands =
area = convert|2460|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on
length =
width =
highest mount = Erebus
elevation = convert|3794|m|ft|0|abbr=on
population =
population as of =
density =
ethnic groups =
country = Antarctica
additional info = Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System

Ross Island is an island formed by four volcanoes in the Ross Sea by Antarctica, off the coast of Victoria Land in McMurdo Sound. Its area is 2,460 km² (950 sq mi); only a small portion of the island is free of ice and snow. Sir James Clark Ross discovered it in 1841, and it was later named in honour of him by Robert F. Scott. The planet's southernmost active volcano, Erebus (3794 m), as well as the dormant volcano Terror (3230 m), are situated on the island. They were named by Ross after his ships HMS "Erebus" and HMS "Terror". The third highest elevation is Mount Bird.

Despite its relatively small size, Ross Island is the world's 6th highest island.

Ross Island was the base for many of the early expeditions to Antarctica. It was and still is the southernmost island reachable by sea. Huts built by Scott's and Shackleton's expeditions are still standing on the island, preserved as historical sites.

Ross Island lies within the boundaries of Ross Dependency, which is claimed by New Zealand.

Today Ross Island is home to New Zealand's Scott Base, and the largest Antarctic settlement, the U.S. Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station. Greenpeace established World Park Base on the island and it ran for five years, from 1987 to 1992.

Ross Island supports a colony of approximately half a million Adélie Penguins, which call this frigid climate home.

See also

* Erebus Ice Tongue
* List of antarctic and sub-antarctic islands
* McMurdo Sound
*Ross Sea

References

*

External links

* [http://www.niwascience.co.nz/pubs/wa/11-3/map NIWA New Zealand]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ross Island — ist der Name mehrerer Inseln: Ross Island (County Kerry), eine kleine Insel im Lough Leane Ross Insel, eine große Vulkaninsel im Rossmeer in der Antarktis James Ross Insel, eine Insel an der Spitze der antarktischen Halbinsel in den Vereinigten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ross Island — Sp Ròso salà Ap Ross Island L tarp Pleigrino ež. ir Kryžiaus ež., Kanada (Manitoba) …   Pasaulio vietovardžiai. Internetinė duomenų bazė

  • Ross Island — Ross′ Is′land n. geg an island in the W Ross Sea, off the coast of Victoria Land: part of the Ross Dependency; location of Mt. Erebus …   From formal English to slang

  • Ross Island — an island in the W Ross Sea, off the coast of Victoria Land: part of the Ross Dependency; location of Mt. Erebus. * * * ▪ island, Antarctica  volcanic formation in Antarctica, located in the western Ross Sea, Ross Dependency (New Zealand), at the …   Universalium

  • Ross Island — Île de Ross Île de Ross Carte de l île de Ross. Géographie Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ross Island — an island in the W Ross Sea, off the coast of Victoria Land: part of the Ross Dependency; location of Mt. Erebus …   Useful english dictionary

  • Ross Island — noun A volcanic island in the Ross Sea near Antarctica …   Wiktionary

  • Ross Island — /rɒs ˈaɪlənd/ (say ros uyluhnd) noun an island in the Ross Sea, the site of the active volcano Mt. Erebus …   Australian English dictionary

  • Ross Island (disambiguation) — Ross Island can refer to:* Ross Island, an island in Antarctica * James Ross Island, an island near Antarctica * Ross Island (Oregon), an island in the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, USA * Rossøya, an island in Norway * Ross Island… …   Wikipedia

  • Ross Island (Andaman) — Bearing a haunted look today, the Ross Island was the Administrative Headquarters for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, before an earthquake rocked it in 1941. The headquarters were then shifted to Port Blair. One can see remnants of an opulent… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”