Happy Year of the Horse! 1 January 2026
You wouldn’t expect there to be a theme about horses in Antarctica, but with the Chi-nese Year of the Horse fast approaching, we thought it would be worth highlighting some equine-related place names just off the Antarctic Peninsula. Horseshoe Island was named by the British Graham Land Expedition (1936–37) for its distinctive crescent shape formed by surrounding peaks, and Shoesmith Glacier was named in 1958 in association with this name.
Several lakes on the island follow this naming theme, submitted to the Committee to help with identification of a proposed ASPA in the area. Pritchel Lake is named after the tool used for punching holes in horseshoes. It sits within Farrier Col, along with other lakes named after farrier tools, including Clincher Lake, whose name reflects another tool used in securing horseshoe nails. Farrier Col itself was designated ASPA 181 in 2024, due to the scientific and environmental importance of its freshwater lakes. These names create a consistent theme across the island, linking its physical geography with a clear, practical naming convention.
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