Anvers Island

Anvers

NASA image of Anvers Island
Anvers Location in Antarctica
Geography
Location	Antarctica
Coordinates	64°33′S 63°35′W / 64.550°S 63.583°W / -64.550; -63.583
Archipelago	Palmer Archipelago
Area	2,432 km2 (939 sq mi)
Length	61 km (37.9 mi)
Highest elevation	2,760 m (9060 ft)
Highest point	Mount Français
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population	~50

Anvers Island or Antwerp Island or Antwerpen Island or Isla Amberes is a high, mountainous island 61 km (38 miles) long, the largest in the Palmer Archipelago of Antarctica. It was discovered by John Biscoe in 1832 and named in 1898 by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition under Adrien de Gerlache after the province of Antwerp in Belgium. It lies south-west of Brabant Island at the south-western end of the group. The south-western coastline of the island forms part of the Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA 7). Cormorant Island, an Important Bird Area, lies 1 km off the south coast.

There is a small science outpost called Palmer Station on the south end of Anvers island since the late 1960s; it is the smallest and farthest north of three the U.S. has on the continent. It is staffed by a few dozen people mostly doing marine and biology research, and is usually resupplied by ship as it has no regular airport.