- Noir Island
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Noir Island (Spanish: Isla Noir) is an island, belonging to Chile, located west of Tierra del Fuego at -54.468441,-73.02063[1][2]. Cabo Noir (sometimes called "Cape Noir" in English) is the south-west cape of Isla Noir.[3]
Cape Noir plays a role in a dramatic episode in Patrick O'Brian's novel The Golden Ocean, which is based on the historical events of Commodore George Anson's circumnavigation of the world. A squadron of ships believes they have rounded Cape Horn and reached safe waters. The sight of Cape Noir evokes the appalling realization that their longitude reckoning is grossly in error, and that they still must make hundreds of miles of desperately difficult westing.
The episode is described by the chaplain of the Centurion:[4]
“ It was indeed most wonderful, that the currents should have driven us to the eastward with such strength; for the whole squadron esteemed themselves upwards of ten degrees more westerly than this land, so that in running down, by our account, about nineteen degrees of longitude, we had not really advanced half that distance. And now, instead of having our labours and anxieties relieved by approaching a warmer climate and more tranquil seas, we were to steer again to the southward, and were again to combat those western blasts, which had so often terrified us; and this too, when we were greatly enfeebled by our men falling sick, and dying apace, and when otir spirits, dejected by a long continuance at sea, and by our late disappointment, were much less capable of supporting us in the various difficulties, which we could not but expect in this new undertaking. ” References
- ^ Google Maps
- ^ Earthsearch
- ^ Carteret's voyage round the world, 1766-1769: "Cape Noir, the south-west cape of Noir Island, 54° 31' S, 73° 05' W."
- ^ Richard Walter (1749). A voyage round the world in the years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV.. John and Paul Knapton., p. 83
Categories:- Islands of Magellan and Chilean Antarctica Region
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