Place-names of South Orkney Islands 1 November 2024
The British Antarctic Survey Mapping and Geographic Information Centre have recently published a new map of Signy and the South Orkney Islands, and development of the map highlighted many changes across the region. There are many interesting descriptive place names across the region, evoking the harsh environment and striking landforms found across the islands.
On Coronation Island, Echo Mountain was named for the acoustic effects that occur on its SE side. Nearby, Coldblow Col was named after a visiting FIDS party from Signy had their tent blown down. Cragsman Peaks is named with reference to the rock climbing that the peaks afforded during FIDS visits in 1948-49 and 1956-58.
Naming continues across British Antarctic Territory, and a few features in the South Orkney Islands were named in the latest Antarctic Place-names Committee meeting last year. These include Brierley Bay, named for Professor Andrew Stuart Brierley (1967-2024) and Murphy Islands, named for Professor Eugene Murphy.
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