Ferraz Station Vicinity, King George Island (FERR)
62˚10’S, 58˚48’W Magnetic declination: 12.0˚E Inventory subarea: SH Inventory acronym: FERR Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features This site is located in Martel Inlet, Admiralty Bay, and is the locus of the Brazilian research station, Commandante Ferraz. Martel Inlet was first charted by Charcot in 1909 and named for a French politician. The site is on morainal materials with a gently-sloping surface up onto the edge of a moraine, the top of which is perhaps 25-30 meters above sea level. The base itself is built upon a large lateral moraine, and there is a cemetery on the morainal hillside. Rock fragments in the moraine comprise several kinds of basaltic rocks with differing textures, likely reflecting the composition of volcanic rocks in higher reaches of the island. Near the shore and just beyond the main base buildings, there is a large outcrop of layered basalt. At the far end of the bay beyond the station, a rugged ice-fall at the base of a glacier reaches the sea. Across the bay, there is a massive lateral moraine rising as a ridge perhaps 150 meters above sea level, which suggests a considerable retreat by this glacier front in the recent geologic past. The volcanic origin of the South Shetland Islands and King George Island is evidenced by well-developed layering in the brown, gray, and black rocks around the bay. The surface may remain covered in snow well into the austral spring, though exposed morainal material may be muddy and soft. The rocky, pebbly beach is covered with whale bones from former whaling activities in this area. A whale skeleton (with bones from at least nine species of whales) has been “reassembled” on a moss bed a short distance from the station. Landing Characteristics Easy landings by zodiac on the cobble beach in front of the station. At this site, there are relatively few faunal attractions, though the tidepools on site often provide excellent views of invertebrates. The whale skeleton is a bit of a tourist attraction, though the bones derive from many species. Many tour ships conduct zodiac tours in Martel Inlet to view humpback whales that often summer in Admiralty Bay, when krill is abundant. Krill often washes up on the station’s beaches. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. November 28, 1995 BH SF W. Discoverer Assessment and monitoring . None by the Inventory. These tasks presumably accomplished by base personnel. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Antarctic terns nest in the vicinity of the reassembled whale skeleton. No site-specific penguin breeding populations are listed in Woehler (1993) or Woehler & Croxall (1996). Seals . None noted. Flora . There are extensive moss beds, spp. above and behind the station and the inlet. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities. Moss beds behind and near the station are easily accessed. Antarctic terns nest near the station and are easily disturbed. Pointers for avoiding disruptions.
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites. The Polish Arctowski Base is located to the S across Admiralty Bay from Martel Inlet. |
