Point Obelisk, James Ross Island (OBEL)
64˚08’S, 58˚27’W Magnetic declination: 12.5˚E Inventory subarea: NE Inventory acronym: OBEL Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features Located at the N end of the entrance to Röhss Bay on the W side of James Ross Island. Discovered by Nordenskjøld’s Swedish Antarctic Expedition and named for a conspicuous rock pinnacle two miles within the headland, visible from the NW and S. Landing Characteristics Barren landing beach. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. January 1, 2002 RP Endeavour Assessment and monitoring . Only preliminary censusing and ground photodocumentation has been accomplished. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Pairs of kelp gull and south polar skua acting defensively, but no nests discovered. Seals . None observed. Flora . Scattered moss beds. Xanthoria , spp., Usnea , spp., Mastodia , spp., and Caloplaca , spp. 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 landings is, inexplicably, not listed in the NSF compilations. Proximate visitor sites . On James Ross Island: Rum Cove, Brandy Bay, Cape Gage, Cape Lachman, Comb Ridge, Gin Cove, and Holluschickie Bay; and Persson Island. |
