Not far from the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands archipelago is the Half Moon Island. This small area where penguin colonies live has become a favorite tourist destination.
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| Half Moon Island Antarctica |
Half Moon Island in Antarctica
Half Moon Island is a tiny territory located in the South Shetland Islands archipelago. The Half Moon Island is only 120 km away from the Antarctic Peninsula. The archipelago includes 24 islands, including the islands of Bridgeman, Greenwich, Deception, Livingston.
The coordinates of the Antarctic Half Moon Island are 62 degrees south latitude and 59 degrees west longitude.
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| Half Moon Island Antarctica |
The island got its name from its shape, which resembles a crescent moon. Due to its unusual shape and stunning landscapes, the island has become very popular with tourists. They go here to take beautiful photos and feel the unbridled power of untouched nature. However, in order to land on the island, you must follow the rules. In addition to the mandatory safety rules that all tourists must follow, there are a few unusual ones. For example, more than 100 people cannot land on the island at the same time. And at night (from 22:00 - 04:00) there should be no one on the island.
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| Half Moon Island Antarctica |
The island is only 2 km long. The terrain is rocky and covered with basalt pebbles. A feature of this area is the presence of chinstrap penguin colonies. Another rule of the island is a ban on approaching animals closer than 5 meters, and it is also forbidden for them to cross the road. As much as a stranger does not want to touch the living creatures living here, it is strictly forbidden to do so. However, the penguins themselves are not at all afraid of humans and can themselves approach creatures unknown to them.
In addition to penguins, seals live on the Antarctic Half Moon Island, as well as birds - Antarctic terns, gulls and petrels.
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| Half Moon Island Antarctica |
Other islands in the Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands consist of 24 islands. Next to the Half Moon Island is Deception - the Island of Deception. The reception is the result of volcanic activity and has a high thermal activity area. Therefore, there are hot springs in this area. The shape of the island resembles a horseshoe. And its diameter is 14 km. The island was opened on January 29, 1820.
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| Half Moon Island Antarctica |
Livingston Island, located very close to the Half Moon, offers a fantastic view of it. The length of the island is 73 km from west to east. Almost the entire territory is covered with ice, the average temperature varies from +3 degrees in summer to -11 degrees during winter.
Greenwich is another island in the South Shetland Islands archipelago. It is of volcanic origin, and its second name is Berezina Island. It is located between Livingston and Robert Islands.