Smith Island

Smith Island is the westernmost major island of the South Shetland chain, featuring the highest point in the archipelago - Mount Foster at 2,025 meters above sea level. The island is extremely rugged and almost entirely ice-covered, with dramatic peaks and steep glaciated valleys. Geologically significant, Smith Island contains polydeformed metamorphic rocks including rare blueschist-facies assemblages, evidence of its origin as an ancient accretionary complex formed at a subduction zone. The harsh terrain and lack of safe anchorages make it one of the least-visited islands in the South Shetlands. Historical Russian name: Borodino Island.