Joubin Islands

Joubin Island

Joubin Island is to the southwest of Anvers Island
Joubin Island Location in Antarctica
Geography
Location	Antarctica
Coordinates	64°47′S 64°27′W
Archipelago	Palmer Archipelago
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited

The Joubin Islands are a group of small islands lying 6 kilometres (3 nmi) south-west of Cape Monaco, Anvers Island, at the south-western end of the Palmer Archipelago of Antarctica. The islands were discovered by the French Antarctic Expedition, 1903–05, under Jean-Baptiste Charcot, and named by him for Louis Joubin, the French naturalist.[1] They have been designated a Restricted Zone under ASMA 7 — Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin — which includes the marine area extending 50 metres (55 yd) from the shorelines.[2]

Environment

The islands share a volcanic and granitic geological origin with Anvers Island. Their vegetation, which is typical of the region, consists of a variety of mosses, lichens and algae, as well as the flowering plants Antarctic Hairgrass and Antarctic Pearlwort.[2]

Important Bird Area

The islands have been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support a breeding colony of about 250 pairs of imperial shags. Other birds nesting on the islands include Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins as well as southern giant petrels.[2]

See also

• List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands

References

1. "Joubin Islands". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
2. "Joubin Islands". BirdLife data zone: Important Bird Areas. BirdLife International. 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.

 This article incorporates public domain material from "Joubin Islands". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.