Jason Islands
Jason Islands | |
---|---|
Grand Jason Island | |
Waters | South Atlantic |
archipelago | Falkland Islands |
Geographical location | 51 ° 7 ′ S , 60 ° 59 ′ W |
Number of islands | 7 (+ numerous rocks) |
Main island | Grand Jason Island |
Total land area | 21.7 km² |
Residents | uninhabited |
NASA image of the Jason Islands |
The Jason Islands ( Spanish name Islas Sebaldes ) are a group of islands in the far northwest of the Falkland Islands . They were discovered by Sebald de Weert in 1600.
The archipelago consists of seven islands as well as numerous cliffs and rocky islands with a total area of 21.7 km². In Spanish, the archipelago is again divided into a western group ( Islas los Salvajes ), consisting of Grand Jason Island and Steeple Jason Island, and an eastern group ( Islas las Llaves ), consisting of Elephant Island, Flat Jason Island, South Island, North Fur Island and Seal Rocks, divided. The largest island is Grand (Jason) Island with a length of 11.3 km.
The two western islands of Grand Jason Island and Steeple Jason Island are privately owned. They were bought by the New York philanthropist Michael Steinhardt in the 1990s and donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society to protect the local fauna.
Animal world (fauna)
The islands are one of the main breeding areas for the Falkland Caracara ( Phalcoboenus australis ). There are also numerous seabirds such as the sub-Antarctic skua ( Stercorarius antarcticus ) or the gentoo penguin ( Pygoscelis papua ).