View source for South Shetland Islands

{{Short description|Group of islands north of the Antarctic Peninsula}}
{{For|the southernmost of Shetland Islands|Fair Isle}}
{{For|the archipelago north of Scotland |Shetland Islands}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = South Shetland Islands
| image_name       = South Shetland Islands Map.png
| image_caption    = Map of the South Shetland Islands
| image_size       = 290px
| map_image        = AntDotMap Livingston.png
| map_caption      = Location of the South Shetlands
| map_size         = 290px
| nickname         =

| location         = [[Antarctica]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|62|0|S|58|0|W|scale:4000000_type:isle_region:AQ|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = 
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 3687
| length_km        = 
| width_km         = 
| highest_mount    = [[Mount Foster]]
| elevation_m      = 2025

| population       = around 500 {{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
| population_as_of = 
| density_km2      = 
| ethnic_groups    = [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|mixed]], others
| treaty_system    = [[Antarctic Treaty System]]
}}

The '''South Shetland Islands''' are a group of [[List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands|Antarctic islands]] located in the [[Drake Passage]] with a total area of {{cvt|3687|km2}}. They lie about {{convert|120|km|nmi|abbr=off|round=5}} north of the [[Antarctic Peninsula]],<ref name="ndsu">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndsu.edu/subantarctic/south_shetland_islands.htm|title=South Shetland Islands|publisher=North Dakota State University|access-date=2009-08-21}}</ref> and between {{cvt|430|and|900|km|nmi|round=5}} southwest of the nearest point of the [[South Orkney Islands]]. By the [[Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty]] of 1959, the islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories. According to British government language on the topic, "the whole of Antarctica is protected in the interests of peace and science."<ref name="bat">{{cite web|url=https://www.britishantarcticterritory.org.uk/heritage/history-of-the-territory/|title=British Antarctic Territory Government |access-date=2025-05-26}}</ref>

The islands have been claimed by three countries, beginning with the United Kingdom since 1908 (since 1962 as part of the equally unrecognized [[British Antarctic Territory]]). The islands are also claimed by the governments of [[Chile]] (since 1940, as part of the [[Antártica Chilena]] province), and by Argentina (since 1943, as part of [[Argentine Antarctica]], [[Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina|Tierra del Fuego Province]]).

Several countries maintain research stations on the islands. Most of them are situated on [[King George Island (South Shetland Islands)|King George Island]], benefitting from the airfield of the Chilean base [[Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva|Eduardo Frei]].

Sixteen research stations are in different parts of the islands, with Chilean stations being the greatest in number.

== History ==
The islands were discovered by British mariner [[William Smith (mariner)|William Smith]], in {{ship||William|1811 Blythe ship|2}}, in 1819, although Dutch mariner [[Dirck Gerritsz Pomp|Dirck Gerritsz]] in 1599 or Spanish Admiral [[Gabriel de Castilla]] in 1603 might have sighted the South Shetlands, or North or South American sealers might have visited the [[archipelago]] before Smith. Smith's discovery was well documented and had wider historical implications beyond its geographic significance.<ref>Ivanov, L. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150708084208/http://livingston-island.weebly.com/ General Geography and History of Livingston Island.] In: ''Bulgarian Antarctic Research: A Synthesis''. Eds. C. Pimpirev and N. Chipev. Sofia: St. Kliment Ohridski University Press, 2015, pp. 17–28, {{ISBN|978-954-07-3939-7}}</ref>

Chilean scientists have claimed that [[Amerind peoples|Amerinds]] have visited the islands, due to stone artifacts recovered from bottom-sampling operations in [[Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands)|Admiralty Bay]], [[King George Island (South Shetland Islands)|King George Island]], and Discovery Bay, [[Greenwich Island]];<ref>{{cite journal|author=G. Hattersley-Smith|date=June 1983|title=Fuegian Indians in the Falkland Islands|journal=Polar Record|volume=21|issue=135|pages=605–606|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/S003224740002204X|bibcode=1983PoRec..21..605H |s2cid=129083566 }}</ref> however, the artifacts – two arrowheads  – were later found to have been planted.<ref name=AMD>{{cite web |url=http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/KeywordSearch/Metadata.do?Portal=GCMD&KeywordPath=%5BFreetext%3D%27026-82_01%27%5D&OrigMetadataNode=GCMD&EntryId=026-82_01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193833/http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/KeywordSearch/Metadata.do?Portal=GCMD&KeywordPath=%5BFreetext%3D%27026-82_01%27%5D&OrigMetadataNode=GCMD&EntryId=026-82_01|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-01-02|title=Authentication of aboriginal remains in the South Shetland Islands|date=2012-10-15|publisher=NASA|access-date=2 January 2014}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name=Griffiths>{{cite book|last=Griffiths|first=Tom|date=2007|title=Slicing the Silence: Voyaging to Antarctica|pages=[https://archive.org/details/slicingsilencevo00tomg/page/344 344–345]|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0674026339|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/slicingsilencevo00tomg/page/344}}</ref> In 1818, [[Juan Pedro de Aguirre]] obtained permission from the [[Buenos Aires]] authorities to establish a base for sealing on "some of the uninhabited islands near the South Pole".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cancilleria.gob.ar/es/iniciativas/dna/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618181835/http://www.dna.gov.ar/DIVULGAC/HISTORIA.HTM|url-status=dead|title=Dirección Nacional del Antártico &#124; Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto|archivedate=18 June 2015|website=cancilleria.gob.ar}}</ref>

Captain William Smith in the British merchant brig ''Williams'', while sailing to [[Valparaíso]], Chile, in 1819, deviated from his route south of [[Cape Horn]], and on 19 February 1819 sighted [[Williams Point]], the northeast extremity of [[Livingston Island]]. Thus, Livingston Island became the first land ever discovered farther than 60° south. Smith revisited the South Shetlands, landed on [[King George Island (South Shetland Islands)|King George Island]] on 16 October 1819, and claimed possession for Britain.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Navy ship ''[[San Telmo (ship)|San Telmo]]'' sank in September 1819 whilst trying to go through the [[Drake Passage]]. Parts of her presumed wreckage were found months later by sealers on the north coast of Livingston Island. The crew of ''San Telmo'' and the troops onboard, led by [[Brigadier]] [[Rosendo Porlier y Asteguieta|Rosendo Porlier]] (a total of 644 men), are believed to be the first known humans to land in Antarctica.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Martinez-Bahamonde |first1=Rafael|title=El navio San Telmo: Los Primeros en pisar la Antartida. Una reparación histórica|journal=University of the Basque Country – Escuela de Ingeniería de Bilbao|date=2019|language=es}}</ref>

From December 1819 to January 1820, the islands were surveyed and mapped by Lieutenant [[Edward Bransfield]] on board the ''Williams'', which had been chartered by the [[Royal Navy]].

On 15 November 1819, the United States agent in Valparaíso, Jeremy Robinson, informed the [[United States Secretary of State]] [[John Quincy Adams]] of Smith's discovery and Bransfield's forthcoming mission, and suggested dispatching a [[United States Navy]] ship to explore the islands, where "new sources of wealth, power, and happiness would be disclosed and science itself be benefited thereby".

The discovery of the islands attracted British and American sealers. The first [[Seal hunting|sealing]] ship to operate in the area was the brig ''Espirito Santo'', chartered by British merchants in [[Buenos Aires]]. The ship arrived at [[Rugged Island (South Shetland Islands)|Rugged Island]] off Livingston Island, where its British crew landed on Christmas Day 1819, and claimed the islands for King George III. A narrative of the events was published by the brig's master, Joseph Herring, in the July 1820 edition of the ''Imperial Magazine''. The ''Espirito Santo'' was followed from the [[Falkland Islands]] by the American brig ''Hersilia'', commanded by Captain James Sheffield (with second mate [[Nathaniel Palmer]]), the first US sealer in the South Shetlands.

The first wintering over in Antarctica took place on the South Shetlands, when at the end of the 1820–1821 summer season, 11 British men from the ship ''Lord Melville'' failed to leave King George Island, and survived the winter to be rescued at the beginning of the next season.

Having circumnavigated the [[Antarctica|Antarctic continent]], the [[Russian Antarctic Expedition]] of [[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen|Fabian von Bellingshausen]] and [[Mikhail Lazarev]] arrived at the South Shetlands in January 1821. The Russians surveyed the islands and named them, landing on both King George Island and [[Elephant Island]]. While sailing between [[Deception Island|Deception]] and [[Livingston Island|Livingston]] Islands, Bellingshausen was visited by [[Nathaniel Palmer]], master of the American brig ''Hero'', who informed him of the activities of dozens of American and British sealing ships in the area.

The name "New South Britain" was used briefly, but was soon changed to South Shetland Islands (in reference to the [[Shetland Islands]] in the north of [[Scotland]]). The name South Shetland Islands is now established in international usage. The two island groups lie at similar distances from the [[Equator]]; the Scottish Shetland Islands are 60°N, and warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]], but the South Shetlands at 62°S are much colder. <!-- (See section Climate) -->

[[Seal hunting]] and [[whaling]] were conducted on the islands during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The sealing era lasted from 1820 to 1908 during which time 197 vessels are recorded as having visiting the islands.<ref>R.K. Headland (ed.), ''Historical Antarctic sealing industry'', Scott Polar Research Institute (Cambridge University), 2018, p. 168, {{ISBN|978-0-901021-26-7}}</ref> Twelve of those vessels were wrecked. Relics of the sealing era include iron try pots, hut ruins, and inscriptions.

Beginning in 1908, the islands were governed as part of the [[Falkland Islands|Falkland Islands Dependency]], but they have only been permanently occupied by humans since the establishment of a scientific research station in 1944. The archipelago, together with the nearby [[Antarctic Peninsula]] and [[South Georgia Island]], is an increasingly popular [[Tourism in Antarctica|tourist]] destination during the southern summer.

== Geography ==
As a group of islands, the South Shetland Islands are located at {{Coord|62|0|S|58|0|W|scale:4000000_type:isle_region:AQ|display=inline}}. They are within the region 61° 00'–63° 37' South, 53° 83'–62° 83' West. The islands lie {{cvt|940|km|nmi|round=5|abbr=on}} south of the [[Falkland Islands]], and between {{cvt|93|km|nmi|abbr=on}} ([[Deception Island]]) and {{cvt|269|km|nmi|abbr=on}} ([[Clarence Island (South Shetland Islands)|Clarence Island]]) northwest and north from the nearest point of the Antarctic continent, [[Graham Land]].

{{maplink
|frame=yes
|coord={{Coord|62|0|S|58|0|W}}
|frame-width=290
|frame-height=290
|text=The South Shetland Islands are a group of [[List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands|Antarctic islands]], lying about {{cvt|120|km}} north of the [[Antarctic Peninsula]],<ref name="ndsu"/>
|zoom=2
|type=shape
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=3
|title=South Shetland Islands
}}

The South Shetlands consist of 11 major islands and several minor ones, totalling {{cvt|3687|km2|abbr=on}} of land area. Between 80 and 90% of the land area is permanently [[glacier|glaciated]]. The highest point on the island chain is [[Mount Foster]] on Smith Island at {{cvt|2025|m|abbr=on}} above sea level at 2-meter spatial resolution.<ref name=BAG>[http://apcbg.org/gazet.bg/ Bulgarian Antarctic Gazetteer]</ref><ref name=REMA>I.M. Howat, C. Porter, B.E. Smith, M.-J. Noh and P. Morin. Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA). Polar Geospatial Center. University of Minnesota, 2022 ([https://rema.apps.pgc.umn.edu/ Antarctic REMA Exlorer])</ref>

The South Shetland Islands extend about {{cvt|500|km|nmi|round=5|abbr=on}} from [[Smith Island (South Shetland Islands)|Smith Island]] and [[Low Island (South Shetland Islands)|Low Island]] in the west-southwest to [[Elephant Island]] and Clarence Island in the east-northeast.<ref>L. Ivanov and N. Ivanova. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364087925_The_World_of_Antarctica ''The World of Antarctica''.] Generis Publishing, 2022. p. 23</ref>

<gallery widths=200 heights=160>
File:Livingston-Island-Map-2010.jpg|Topographic map of Livingston, Greenwich, Robert, Snow and Smith Islands
File:South Shetland Islands and Antarctica.jpg|South Shetland Islands and [[Antarctic Peninsula]], astronaut photo, 2011
File:Williams-Point.jpg|[[Williams Point]], discovered on 19 February 1819
File:Powell-Chart-1822.png|Fragment of [[George Powell (sealer)|George Powell]]'s 1822 chart of the South Shetland Islands, with a [[phantom island]] on the bottom-right called "Middle Island".
File:Half-Moon.jpg|Norwegian [[whaling]] boat, [[Half Moon Island]]
File:Ongal.jpg|[[Ongal Peak]], [[Tangra Mountains]]
File:Renier Point.jpg|[[Renier Point]]
</gallery>

=== Volcanoes ===
Various volcanoes with activity in the [[Quaternary]] exist in the islands. These volcanoes are associated with the [[plate tectonics|tectonics]] of [[Bransfield Basin|Bransfield Rift]]. From west to east, the known volcanoes are Sail Rock, Deception Island, [[Rezen Knoll]], [[Gleaner Heights]], [[Edinburgh Hill]], Inott Point, [[Penguin Island (South Shetland Islands)|Penguin Island]], [[Melville Peak]], and [[Bridgeman Island]].<ref name=Kraussetal>{{cite journal|last1=Kraus|first1=Stefan|last2=Kurbatov|first2=Andrei|last3=Yates|first3=Martin|date=2013|title=Geochemical signatures of tephras from Quaternary Antarctic Peninsula volcanoes|url=https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0718-71062013000100001&script=sci_arttext&tlng=es|journal=Andean Geology|volume=40|issue=1|pages=1–40|doi= 10.5027/andgeoV40n1-a01 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2013AndGe..40a...1K }}</ref> Most of the [[volcanic rock]] and [[tephra]] is of [[basalt]] or [[basaltic andesite]].<ref name=Kraussetal/> An exception is the tephra of Deception Island, which is of [[trachyte]] and [[basaltic trachyandesite]], richer in [[TAS classification|potassium and sodium]].<ref name=Kraussetal/>

Quaternary volcanic products of the islands tend to have less potassium and sodium at a given silica range, and lower [[Niobium|Nb]]/[[Yttrium|Y]] ratios, than those associated with the [[Larsen Rift]] on the Antarctic Peninisula.<ref name=Kraussetal/>

=== Climate ===
The islands are the same distance from the Equator as the [[Faroe Islands]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]], but their proximity to Antarctica means that they have a much colder climate. The sea around the islands is closed by [[sea ice|ice]] from early April to early December, and the monthly average temperature is below {{cvt|0|°C}} for eight months of the year (April to November).

The islands have experienced measurable [[glacier]] retreat during recent years, but despite this, they remain more than 80% snow- and ice-covered throughout the summer.

The climate is cloudy and humid all year round, and very strong westerly winds blow at all seasons. Some of the sunniest weather is associated with outbreaks of very cold weather from the south in late winter and spring. Mean summer temperatures are only about {{cvt|1.5|°C}} and those in winter are about {{cvt|-5|°C}}. The effect of the ocean tends to keep summer temperatures low and prevent winter temperatures from falling as low as they do inland to the south.<ref>GHCN Climate data, GISS data publications, period 1978-2007</ref>

== Flora and fauna ==
[[File:SouthShetland-2016-Livingston Island (Hannah Point)–Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) 01.jpg|thumb|[[Elephant seal]]s at [[Hannah Point]]]]

Despite the harsh conditions, the islands do support vegetation and are part of the [[Scotia Sea]] Islands [[tundra]] [[ecoregion]], along with [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]], the [[South Orkney Islands]], and [[Bouvet Island]]. All of these islands lie in the cold seas below the [[Antarctic Convergence]]. These areas support tundra vegetation consisting of [[moss]]es, [[lichen]]s, and [[algae]], while seabirds, [[penguin]]s, and seals feed in the surrounding waters.

An insect, ''Parochlus steinenii'', is the only flying insect living that far south.<ref>[https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529439/1/ZK_article_56833_en_1.pdf Records of Parochlus steinenii in the Maritime Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions]</ref>

== Islands ==
[[File:Byers Peninsula, Devils Point.jpg|thumb|[[Devils Point]], [[Livingston Island]], with [[Morton Strait]] and [[Snow Island (South Shetland Islands)|Snow Island]] in the background, and [[Smith Island (South Shetland Islands)|Smith Island]] seen on the horizon on the right]]
[[File:Deception-Tourists.jpg|thumb|[[Hot spring|Warm volcanic bath]] at [[Port Foster]], [[Deception Island]]. [[MV Explorer (1969)|MV ''Explorer'']] is in the background; she later sank after hitting an iceberg.]]

From north to south, the main and some minor islands of the South Shetlands are:

* [[Cornwallis Island (South Shetland Islands)|Cornwallis Island]] (minor)
* [[Elephant Island]] (Mordvinova by Russia)
* [[Clarence Island (South Shetland Islands)|Clarence Island]] (Shishkova by Russia)
* [[Rowett Island (South Shetland Islands)|Rowett Island]] (minor)
* [[Gibbs Island (South Shetland Islands)|Gibbs Island]] (minor)
* [[Eadie Island]] (minor)
* [[King George Island (South Shetland Islands)|King George Island]] (the largest, called May 25 island by Argentina, or Vaterloo by Russia)
* [[Bridgeman Island (South Shetland Islands)|Bridgeman Island]] (minor)
* [[Penguin Island (South Shetland Islands)|Penguin Island]] (minor—one of several Penguin Islands in the Antarctic region)
* [[Nelson Island (South Shetland Islands)|Nelson Island]] (Leipzig by Russia)
* [[Robert Island]] (Polotsk by Russia)
* [[The Watchkeeper]] (minor)
* [[Table Island (South Shetland Islands)|Table Island]] (minor)
* [[Aitcho Islands (South Shetland Islands)|Aitcho Islands]] (minor)
* [[Greenwich Island]] (Berezina by Russia)
* [[Half Moon Island]] (minor)
* [[Desolation Island (South Shetland Islands)|Desolation Island]] (minor)
* [[Livingston Island]] (second largest, Smolensk by Russia)
* [[Rugged Island (South Shetland Islands)|Rugged Island]] (minor—one of several in the Antarctic region)
* [[Snow Island (South Shetland Islands)|Snow Island]] (one of several in the Antarctic region; Maly Yaroslavets by Russia)
* [[Smith Island (South Shetland Islands)|Smith Island]] (Borodino by Russia)
* [[Deception Island]] (Teylya by Russia)
* [[Low Island (South Shetland Islands)|Low Island]]
* [[Seal Islands (South Shetland Islands)|Seal Islands]] (minor)
* [[Phantom island|Middle Island]] (phantom)

The Russian names above are historical, and no longer the official Russian names. (See the "South Shetland Islands" navbar at [[#navboxes|the end of the article]] for a complete list of islands.)

== Research stations ==
[[File:Villa-Las-Estrellas-Antarctica.JPG|thumb|Chilean base [[Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva|Frei]] and Russian [[Bellingshausen Station|Bellingshausen]] (on the right)]]
[[File:St.-Kliment-Ohridski-Base-2012-2.jpg|thumb|Bulgarian base [[St. Kliment Ohridski Base|Ohridski]]]]

Several nations maintain research stations on the Islands:

* {{ARG}}: [[Cámara Base|Cámara]] (since 1953, summer only)
* {{ARG}}: [[Carlini Base|Carlini]] (since 1953, year-round)
* {{ARG}}: [[Base Decepción]] (since 1948, summer only)
* {{BGR}}: [[St. Kliment Ohridski Base|St. Kliment Ohridski]] (since 1988, summer only)
* {{BRA}}: [[Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station]] (since 1984, year-round)
* {{CHL}}: [[Presidente Eduardo Frei Base]] (since 1969, year-round)
* {{CHL}}: [[Profesor Julio Escudero Base]] (since 1994, year-round)
* {{CHL}}: [[Captain Arturo Prat Base]] (since 1947, year-round)
* {{CHL}}: [[Dr. Guillermo Mann Base]] (since 1991, summer only)
* {{CHN}}: [[Great Wall Station|Chang Cheng/Great Wall]] (since 1985, year-round)
* {{ECU}}: [[Pedro Vicente Maldonado Base]] (since 1990, summer only)
* {{ESP}}: [[Juan Carlos I Antarctic Base]] (since 1988, summer only)
* {{ESP}}: [[Gabriel de Castilla Base]] (since 1989, summer only)
* {{KOR}}: [[King Sejong Station]] (since 1988, year-round)
* {{PER}}: [[Machu Picchu Research Station]] (since 1989, summer only)
* {{POL}}: [[Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station]] (since 1977, year-round)
* {{RUS}}: [[Bellingshausen Station]] (since 1968, year-round)
* {{USA}}: [[Shirreff Base]] (since 1996, summer only)
* {{URY}}: [[Artigas Base]] (since 1984, year-round)

== Field camps ==
[[File:Byers Peninsula, Camp Byers.jpg|thumb|[[Camp Byers|Camp Byers (International Field Camp)]]]]

* {{ARG}}: [[Camp Livingston (Antarctica)|Camp Livingston]]
* {{BGR}}: [[Camp Academia]]
* {{ESP}}: [[Camp Byers]]

== See also ==
{{cmn|
* [[Cape Plenty]]
* {{annotated link|Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica}}
* {{annotated link|Deception Island}}
* {{annotated link|Greenwich Island}}
* {{annotated link|King George Island (South Shetland Islands)|King George Island}}
* [[List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands]]
* {{annotated link|Livingston Island}}
* {{annotated link|Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research}}
* {{annotated link|Sherratt Bay}}
* [[Territorial claims in Antarctica]]
* {{annotated link|Shetland Plate}}
* [[Stancomb Cove]]
* [[Stanley Patch]]
* [[Stump Rock]]
* [[Wensleydale Beacon]]
}}

== In fiction ==
* ''Away with the Penguins'' by [[Hazel Prior]] (2020) is set in a penguin research base on the [[fictional]] island of "Locket Island", but which the author states is based on the South Shetland Islands.{{cn|date=February 2022}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Campbell, R. J., ed., ''The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands: The Voyage of the Brig Williams 1819–1820 and the Journal of Midshipman C. W. Poynter'', the Hakluyt Society, London, 2000.
* ''General Survey of Climatology'' Vol. 12, Landsberg ed., 1984, Elsevier.
* Ferrer Fougá, Capt. Hernán (2004). "[http://www.revistamarina.cl/revistas/2003/6/ferrer.pdf El hito austral del confín de América. El cabo de Hornos. (Siglo XIX, 1800–1855.) (Segunda parte.)]". ''[[Revista de Marina]]'', Valparaíso, no. 1.
* Gurney, Alan (1998). ''Below the Convergence: Voyages Toward Antarctica, 1699–1839''. New York: Penguin Books.
* Ivanov, L., and N. Ivanova (2022). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364087925_The_World_of_Antarctica ''The World of Antarctica'']. Generis Publishing. pp. 23–24, 78–83, 108–110. {{ISBN|979-8-88676-403-1}}.
* Jones, A. G. E. (November 1975). "Captain William Smith and the Discovery of New South Shetland". ''Geographical Journal'', vol. 141, no. 3, pp.&nbsp;445–461.
* Riffenburgh, B., ed. [https://books.google.com/books?id=_mUPEAAAQBAJ ''Encyclopedia of the Antarctic''.] New York: Routledge, 2006. 1272 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-1358-7866-5}}.
* Serrano, E. (2001). "[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Enrique-Serrano-3/publication/28081106_Espacios_protegidos_y_politica_territorial_en_las_islas_Shetland_del_Sur_Antartida/links/0a85e53567a0690b3b000000/Espacios-protegidos-y-politica-territorial-en-las-islas-Shetland-del-Sur-Antartida.pdf?_sg%5B0%5D=HcRu7znipJQCxJXUlE7EkXGvbRT1ahW9fK0U-NXNzvRz4vjG45flhgO8bsyR-D-_dPwHNBJWN5Pd30G-1y0HEA.lqYT9a4b_cbhCDGooa8yuPO5WWsxUzujpfgwAMDACJDfFUFViwXGZkaSx9krLr7ksA8EqmJ33fijsZ-MhJOpcg&_sg%5B1%5D=irAYtvCu4ftOlsy4pLqUiES46nn9-kgZFCs0vX2heymaWU5EWEDZxZuTzvay8nsqPy1skg_Xsxt9cGkuvx2TbbQzvCrlQbpcGwkCawLIz2P3.lqYT9a4b_cbhCDGooa8yuPO5WWsxUzujpfgwAMDACJDfFUFViwXGZkaSx9krLr7ksA8EqmJ33fijsZ-MhJOpcg&_iepl= Espacios protegidos y política territorial en las islas Shetland del Sur (Antártida)]" ''Boletín de la A.G.E.'' no. 31. pp. 5–21
* Stewart, J. (2011). [https://epdf.tips/antarctica-an-encyclopedia-2-volume-set-second-edition.html ''Antarctica: An Encyclopedia'']. Jefferson, N.C. and London: McFarland. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3590-6}}.

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Commons category|South Shetland Islands}}
{{Wiktionary}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070815210241/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/YearbookInternal.asp?NodeID=140419 Commonwealth Secretariat Website describing BAT]
* [https://britishantarcticterritory.org.uk/ United Kingdom, British Antarctic Territory Government]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051017074145/http://www.info.gov.ar/images/mapas/tierra.jpg Argentine Government Website with a map of the South Shetland Islands]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150618181835/http://www.dna.gov.ar/DIVULGAC/HISTORIA.HTM Argentine Government website about the history of Antarctica]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312034231/http://www.cpel.uba.ar/filargenta/correo/anta0048.htm Argentine Antarctic Sector: Historical Documents]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080928054224/http://www3.pnra.it/SCAR_GAZE Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica]
* [http://apcbg.org Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria]

=== Maps ===
* [http://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?embedded=true&toolbar=false&dps_pid=IE3753004 Chart of South Shetland including Coronation Island] from the exploration of the sloop Dove in the years 1821 and 1822 by George Powell Commander of the same. Scale c. 1:200000. London: Laurie, 1822.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101009025101/http://www.kgis.scar.org/ King George Island Geographic Information System].
* L. L. Ivanov et al. [[:File:Livingston-Greenwich-map.jpg|Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands]] (from English Strait to Morton Strait, with illustrations and ice-cover distribution). Scale 1:100000 topographic map. [[Antarctic Place-names Commission]] of [[Bulgaria]], [[Sofia]], 2005.
* L. L. Ivanov. [[:commons:File:Livingston-Island-Map-2010.jpg|Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich, Robert, Snow and Smith Islands.]] Scale 1:120000 topographic map. Troyan: Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2010. {{ISBN|978-954-92032-9-5}} (First edition 2009 {{ISBN|978-954-92032-6-4}}).
* L. L. Ivanov. [[:commons:File:Livingston-Island-Map-2010-15.png|Antarctica: Livingston Island and Smith Island]]. Scale 1:100000 topographic map. Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2017, {{ISBN|978-619-90008-3-0}}.
* [http://www.add.scar.org Antarctic Digital Database (ADD)] Scale 1:250000 topographic map of Antarctica. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). Since 1993, regularly upgraded and updated.

{{Anchor|navboxes}}{{Geographic location
 | Centre = South Shetland Islands
 | N  = {{flagcountry|FLK}}<br/>''[[Drake Passage]]''
 | NE = {{flagicon|SGS}} [[South Georgia Island|South Georgia]]<br/>''[[Atlantic Ocean]]''
 | E  = [[South Orkney Islands]]
 | SE = ''[[Southern Ocean]]''<br/>[[Antarctica]]
 | S  = [[Antarctic Peninsula]]
 | SW = ''[[Southern Ocean]]''
 | W  = ''[[Pacific Ocean]]''
 | NW = [[Tierra del Fuego]]<br/>''[[Drake Passage]]''
}}
{{South Shetlands}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:South Shetland Islands| ]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of the Southern Ocean]]
[[Category:Falkland Islands in World War II]]
[[Category:Seal hunting]]