Clarence Island

🇦🇶 Antarctica

Über Clarence Island

Remote peaks where Shackleton sailed past

Overview

A remote, mountainous island at the eastern end of the South Shetland Islands. Rising to 1,950m at Mount Irving, Clarence Island was sighted by Shackleton during his famous boat voyage to South Georgia.

Detailed Description

Clarence Island is the easternmost of the South Shetland Islands, a 21km-long mountainous island oriented northeast to southwest. Its dramatic peaks, including Mount Irving at 1,950 meters, make it one of the highest islands in the archipelago. The island is almost entirely ice-covered and has no permanent human presence. Ernest Shackleton and his crew sighted Clarence Island during their desperate 1916 boat journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia, though they were unable to land due to the rugged coastline. The island supports colonies of chinstrap penguins and Antarctic fur seals during the breeding season.