Deception Island [SEP] continent
Deception Island
Deception Island is an island in the South Shetland Islands archipelago, with one of the safest harbours in Antarctica. This island is the caldera of an active volcano, which seriously damaged local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. The island previously held a whaling station; it is now a tourist destination and scientific outpost, with Argentine and Spanish research bases. While various countries have asserted sovereignty, it is still administered under the Antarctic Treaty System.
Geography.
The island is approximately circular with a diameter of
.
On August 25, 1818, the Argentine government, then called the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, granted the first concessions for hunting earless seals and penguins for the Antarctic continent to Juan Pedro de Aguirre, who operated the ship "Espíritu Santo" based on Deception Island.
The ship "Espíritu Santo" was followed by the American "brig" "Hercilia" to Deception Island. The fact that these Argentine sealers were directed to the islands with fixed course is usually regarded as proof that it