False Island Point, Vega Island (FALS)
63˚55’S, 57˚20’W Magnetic declination: 11.7˚E Inventory subarea: NE Inventory acronym: FALS Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features Headland one mile long and 0.5 miles wide, connected by a low, almost unnoticeable isthmus to the S side of Vega Island. First sighted in 1902 and charted as an island by Nordenskjøld’s Swedish Antarctic Expedition. Determined to be part of Vega Island by the Falklands Islands Dependencies Survey in 1945. Landing Characteristics Rocky beach with large cobble. Access inland is uphill. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. December 10, 2001 RN SF CE Endeavour 2. January 31, 2003 MM Endeavour Assessment and monitoring . Preliminary censusing and ground photodocumentation. Lacking a complete ground survey of nesting birds and floral communities. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . South polar skua confirmed breeding. Wilson’s storm-petrel and snow petrel confirmed breeding in high scree at SE end of the Point, overlooking Pastorizo Bay. Kelp gulls and Antarctic terns also observed, but breeding not confirmed. Seals . Weddell seals observed on nearby ice floes. Flora . Scattered, occasionally dense moss patches in snow melt gullies. Usnea , spp. and Xanthoria , spp. Also noted. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities . None noted. Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Note : Inventory researchers visited this site from a tour ship during the 2001-02 season; however, this landing is, inexplicably, not listed specifically in the NSF compilations for that season; however, 1 zodiac landing and 72 participating visitors are listed for Vega Island) Proximate visitor sites . On the Trinity Peninsula: Jade Point, Crystal Hill, Bald Head, Camp Hill, and View Point; Cape Burd on the Tabarin Peninsula; and Devil Island. |
