Beaver Island (Falkland Islands)
Encyclopedia
Beaver Island is one of the Beaver Island group of Falkland Islands
. It lies west of Weddell Island
and south of New Island
and has an area of 4856 ha (11,999.4 acre; 18.7 sq mi).
Other islands in the group include Staats Island, with an area of 500 ha (1,235.5 acre; 1.9 sq mi); Tea Island, which covers 310 ha (766 acre; 1.2 sq mi); Governor Island, which covers 220 ha (543.6 acre; 0.849424748903577 sq mi); Split Island, with an area of 70 ha (173 acre; 0.270271511014775 sq mi) and a few smaller islands. Though the smaller islands in the group are low-lying, the larger islands are very hilly, with many peaks of more than 150 metres (492.1 ft) and some more than 200 metres (656.2 ft). The highest elevation in the Beaver Island Group is 234 metres (767.7 ft).
.
Beaver Settlement lies on the island, with an airstrip nearby. It is owned by Sally and Jerome Poncet.
In October 2003, the wreckage of a missing French yacht was found on the island by their son, Leif Poncet.
s, South American Gray Foxes (introduced, not to be confused with the Falkland Islands Wolf), Peregrine Falcon
s, Southern
and Striated Caracara
s, Guanacos, fur seal
s, and many seabird
s. Beds of kelp
can be found offshore.
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Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. It lies west of Weddell Island
Weddell Island
Weddell Island is the third largest of the Falkland Islands. Weddell Island is located to the west of West Falkland and is square miles in area. The length of the coastline is miles...
and south of New Island
New Island
New Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north of Beaver Island. It is from Stanley and is 8 miles long with an average width of 820 yards . The highest point is . The northern and eastern coasts have high cliffs but the eastern coasts are lower lying, with rocky shores and...
and has an area of 4856 ha (11,999.4 acre; 18.7 sq mi).
Other islands in the group include Staats Island, with an area of 500 ha (1,235.5 acre; 1.9 sq mi); Tea Island, which covers 310 ha (766 acre; 1.2 sq mi); Governor Island, which covers 220 ha (543.6 acre; 0.849424748903577 sq mi); Split Island, with an area of 70 ha (173 acre; 0.270271511014775 sq mi) and a few smaller islands. Though the smaller islands in the group are low-lying, the larger islands are very hilly, with many peaks of more than 150 metres (492.1 ft) and some more than 200 metres (656.2 ft). The highest elevation in the Beaver Island Group is 234 metres (767.7 ft).
History and population
Beaver Island was named after the whaling vessel "Beaver" which was recorded as being the first whaling ship to double Cape HornCape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
.
Beaver Settlement lies on the island, with an airstrip nearby. It is owned by Sally and Jerome Poncet.
In October 2003, the wreckage of a missing French yacht was found on the island by their son, Leif Poncet.
Wildlife
Wildlife on the island includes Gentoo PenguinGentoo penguin
The Gentoo Penguin , Pygoscelis papua, is easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a bonnet across the top of its head and its bright orange-red bill. The gentoo penguin has pale whitish-pink webbed feet and a fairly long tail - the most prominent tail of all penguins. Chicks have...
s, South American Gray Foxes (introduced, not to be confused with the Falkland Islands Wolf), Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
s, Southern
Southern Caracara
The Southern Crested Caracara , also known as the Southern Caracara, is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It formerly included the Northern Caracara of the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and northern South America, and the extinct Guadalupe Caracara as subspecies...
and Striated Caracara
Striated Caracara
The Striated Caracara, is a bird of prey of the Falconidae family. In the Falkland Islands it is known as the Johnny Rook.-Description:...
s, Guanacos, fur seal
Fur seal
Fur seals are any of nine species of pinnipeds in the Otariidae family. One species, the northern fur seal inhabits the North Pacific, while seven species in the Arctocephalus genus are found primarily in the Southern hemisphere...
s, and many seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
s. Beds of kelp
Kelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
can be found offshore.
External links
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