Snow Hill Island (SNOW)
64˚28’S, 57˚12’W Magnetic declination: 12.0˚E Inventory subarea: NE Inventory acronym: SNOW Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features A 20 mile-long, 6 mile-wide, island lying SE of James Ross Island, and separated from it by Admiralty Sound. It was discovered by Ross in 1843, but he was uncertain of its connection to the mainland, and named it simply Snow Hill because its snowy appearance contrasted so markedly with the barren ground of nearby Seymour Island. Many fossils may be found on site. The refuge built in 1902 and utilized by the main party of the Nordenskjøld expedition is still intact, is maintained by the Argentines, and is designated as an Antarctic Historic Site and Monument. Landing Characteristics The Nordenskjøld refuge is maintained for visitors, and is reached by an easy uphill climb from the landing beach. Snow Hill and Seymour are in close proximity of the Argentine Marambio Station. There appears to be no breeding wildlife. A seal census is easily accomplished along the shoreline. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. January 22, 1995 RN Explorer 2. December 10, 2001 RN SF CE Endeavour 3. December 21, 2001 JC LGC Endeavour 4. January 2, 2002 RP Endeavour 5. January 13, 2002 RP WT Endeavour 6. February 19, 2002 RN Endeavour 7. January 31, 2003 MM Endeavour 8. February 16, 2003 MB Endeavour Assessment and Monitoring. The landing site has been surveyed and is regularly censused. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . No confirmed nesting species, though kelp gulls, south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns observed on site. Woehler (1993) and Woehler & Croxall (1996) report no site-specific penguin populations. Seals . None observed. Flora . Crustose lichens (spp.) noted. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities. Pointers for avoiding disruptions.
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites . Penguin Point and the fossil area N of the Marambio Station on Seymour Island. |
