South Shetland Islands

Geography: The South Shetland Islannds are a chain of four main island groups, including eleven major islands (Elephant and Clarence Islands; King George and Nelson Islands; Robert, Greenwich, Livingston, Snow, and Deception Islands; Smith and Low Islands) and several minor ones with many islets and rocks. They are located about 120 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula in the Southern Ocean.

Distance from Pittsburgh: 11,574km or 7,191miles

Terrain: About 80 % of the islands are covered with glaciers

Highest Point: Mount Foster, Smith Island - 2105 m

Weather You Should Expect: The climate is cloudy and humid all year round and very strong westerly winds blow at all seasons. The weather can be very variable. The warmest months are January and February, while the coldest month is July. The mean summer temperatures are only about 1.5°C and those in winter are about -5°C.

What You Must See: Ice and Iceburgs

Historical Fact: The South Shetland Islands were first sighted and first landed on in 1819. The islands were heavily exploited for seal hunting in the early nineteenth century. Now they include numerous research stations and are popular with Antarctic tourists.

Science Fact:  The islands are volcanically active. Deception Island is a volcano with a flooded caldera. Bridgeman Island and Penguin Island are also volcanically active.

Another Science Fact:  Several chinstrap rookeries, as well as some very old moss colonies (more than 2000 years old) can also be found on Elephant island. 

Fun Fact: Elephant island might be one of the most important in Antarctic history. This is where 22 members of Shackleton's "Endurance" expedition were stranded in 1915 after their ship was crushed in Weddell Sea pack ice - they spent 135 days on the island.

Interesting Fact: There are sixteen research stations to date in different parts of the islands, maintained by several countries, with Chilean stations being the most in numerous.

Another Fact: King George Island is the largest of the South Shetlands, and is often called Antarctica's unofficial capital, due to the eight national winter stations built on it. The wildlife found on the island includes Antarctic terns, chinstraps, Adélies, blue-eyed shags and southern giant petrels.