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South Shetland Island

South Shetland Island:

According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica.

  • The South Shetland Islands are a remote archipelago located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
  • The South Shetland Islands are often called the jewel in Antarctica’s crown.
  • It was first discovered in 1819 by British mariner William Smith
  • The islands were formed by volcanic activity, and some of the islands are still active today.
  • The most well-known is Deception Island, which has a large, flooded caldera.
  • More than 80% of the land area is covered by permanent ice.
  • There are no permanent residents on this island. Some countries maintain small teams at research stations, depending on the season.