'Peter I Island' (in Norwegian ''Peter 1.s øy'') was discovered by
Fabian von Bellingshausen off
West Antarctica on
January 21 1821. It takes its name after the
Russian emperor
Peter I.
Ola Olstad made the first successful landing on
February 2 1929 and claimed the island for
Norway. The other Antarctic territory claimed by Norway is
Queen Maud Land. Peter I Island is the only Antarctic claim area under the Antarctic Treaty that is not a sector.
The island has an area of 243 km² and reaches a height of 1755 metres on
Lars Christensen Peak, which is a
volcano. It is not known whether it is extinct or not, for the upper part is apparently unmodified by glaciation. It lies at , approximately 450 km from
Eights Coast. It is surrounded by pack ice except for a brief period in late summer, and is 95% glaciated.
Trivia
According to §4 of the
law regarding Bouvet Island, Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land, performing nuclear explosions or depositing nuclear waste on the island without permission is illegal and punishable with fines and/or up to 1 year imprisonment.
History
The
amateur radio prefix for the island is 3Y, and the island hosts an occasional
DX-pedition. As one of the most difficult entities to contact for the popular
DX Century Club award, these generate intense levels of traffic.
See also
★
Sub-antarctic islands
References
★
Volcanoes of the Antarctic Plate and Southern Oceans, , W. E., LeMasurier, American Geophysical Union, ,
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External links
★
2006 Peter I Island amateur radio expedition (3YØX)
★
1994 Peter I Island amateur radio expedition (3YØPI)
★
1987 Peter I Island amateur radio expedition (3Y1EE, 3Y2GV)