From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Group of six South Atlantic islets
The
Shag Rocks
(
Spanish
:
Islas Aurora
) are six small
islets
, as opposed to islands,
[1]
in the westernmost extreme of
South Georgia
, 240 km (150 mi) west of the main island of South Georgia and 1,000 km (620 mi) off the
Falkland Islands
.
[2]
The Shag Rocks are located at
53°32′51″S
42°01′12″W
/
53.54750°S 42.02000°W
/
-53.54750; -42.02000
. 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) further southeast is
Black Rock
, which is located at
53°38′06″S
41°46′30″W
/
53.63500°S 41.77500°W
/
-53.63500; -41.77500
(
Black Rock
)
.
The Shag Rocks cover a total area of less than 20 hectares (49 acres). Situated on the
South Georgia Ridge
, they have a peak elevation above sea level of 75 metres (246 ft), and stand in water approximately 319 metres (1,047 ft) deep. Temperatures average ?1.2 °C (29.8 °F), rarely climbing above 15 °C (59 °F). There is no significant vegetation, but the rocks are covered by the
guano
of seabirds. The main wildlife found on the rocks are the
South Georgia shags
,
[3]
prions
and
wandering albatrosses
.
History
[
edit
]
The Shag Rocks were discovered by
Jose de la Llana
in 1762 with the Spanish ship
Aurora
, and originally named the
Aurora Islands
, after his ship. They were visited by the Spanish ship
San Miguel
in 1769, again by the
Aurora
in 1774, and in 1779 by the
Princesa
and the
Dolores
. In 1794 the Auroras were finally mapped by the Spanish corvette
Atrevida
. However, the Aurora Islands are considered by many to have been a mistaken sighting that was coincidentally near the Shag Rocks, which were known to sealers prior to 1823. They were later rediscovered by
James P. Sheffield
and given their current name, probably because shags and other seabirds frequent them. They were charted by
Discovery Investigations
personnel on the
William Scoresby
in 1927. The first known landing was made in 1956 when Argentine geologist
Mario Giovinetto
was lowered from a helicopter to collect rock samples.
[2]
Government
[
edit
]
The Shag Rocks form part of the
British overseas territory
of
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
. Before 1985 they came within the
Falkland Islands Dependencies
.
Argentina
lays claim to the Shag Rocks and
Black Rock
. Black Rock and Shag Rocks are on the route from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia Island, on a
seamount
of
Scotia Ridge
.
Britain in 1985 formed its overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which includes Black Rock and Shag Rocks. It now assumes responsibility for preservation and defence of the area.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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General
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Settlements / Whaling stations
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South Georgia islands
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South Sandwich Islands
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Seamounts
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Landmarks
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