Aitcho Islands (South Shetland Islands)

The Aitcho Islands ("‘Aitcho’" standing for "‘H.O.’" i.e. "‘Hydrographic Office’") are a group of minor islands in the north entrance to English Strait separating Greenwich Island and Robert Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, which are situated between Dee Island to the south and Table Island to the north. The islands were mapped in 1935 during the oceanographic investigations carried out by the Discovery Committee, and named after the Hydrographic Office of the UK Admiralty. Fact|date=March 2008

During the austral summer the islands are often visited by Antarctic cruise ships with tourists landed to watch wildlife.

Most of the names of each island were given by Chilean Antarctic expeditions between 1949 and 1951. Making part of the group are:

* Barrientos Island
* Emeline Island
* Jorge Island
* Cecilia Island, named "Isla Torre" by Chile
* Sierra Island
* Passage Rock
* Morris Rock

Among the bird species found on the island are chinstrap and gentoo penguins, Southern giant petrels, and skuas. Southern elephant seals are among the larger life forms. There are also a wide variety of lichens and mosses reported. [ [http://www.oceanites.org/visiting/aitc.php Oceanites ] ]

References

See also

* Greenwich Island
* Robert Island

Map

* L.L. Ivanov et al, (from English Strait to Morton Strait, with illustrations and ice-cover distribution), 1:100000 scale topographic map, Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria, Sofia, 2005
* [http://www.pgoimages.com/gallery.php?gall=g_antarctica_aitcho Images from Aitcho Island]
* [http://www.ats.aq/uploaded/siteguidelines/atcm29_op002_e.pdf Barrientos Island]