West Point Island
| West Point Island Isla Remolinos Former name: Albatross Island |
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|---|---|
| Island | |
| 250px | |
| Location of West Point Island within the Falkland Islands Location of West Point Island within the Falkland Islands |
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country | Falkland Islands |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.55 km2 (4.85 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation (Mount Misery) |
369 m (1,211 ft) |
| Time zone | FKST (UTC−3) |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all islands and all inhabited islands in the Falklands respectively. | |
West Point Island (originally known as Albatross Island; Spanish: Isla Remolinos) is one of the Falkland Islands, lying west of West Falkland. It has an area of 1,255 hectares (4.85 sq mi).[1] The island is run as a sheep farm and is run by Roddy and Lily Napier.[2][3]
Description
West Point Island lies off the north-west point of West Falkland. It is 6 km (3.7 mi) long with a maximum width of 4 km (2.5 mi). Its dramatic west-facing cliffs are more than 350 m (1,150 ft) high. Further east, the highest point is Mount Misery at 337 m (1,106 ft).[4] West Point Island Settlement, with its 640 m (2,100 ft) airstrip, lies on Westpoint Cove in the north-east. It is separated from West Falkland by the Wooly Gut channel,[5] named after a strong westerly wind. It lies south-east of the Jason Islands, the nearest being South Jason.
History
As with many locations around the Falkland Islands, in the early 19th century West Point was a popular site for slaughtering seals and penguins for oil. Literal overkill ended this industry in the area. The island was established as a farm in the 1860s by the Napier family.[6]
Flora and fauna
The Falklands endemic Felton's flower, which was named after the current owner's great uncle who discovered it, occurs in relative abundance.[6] The island gardens have a fairly wide selection of introduced plants including roses, foxgloves, daisies, red hot pokers etc.[6] Unusually for the Falklands, there are also a few trees. Other stands of trees can be found at Hill Cove on West Falkland and Carcass Island.
The West Point Island group, which includes the nearby Carcass Island, has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Birds for which the site is of conservation significance include Falkland steamer ducks, ruddy-headed geese, gentoo penguins, southern rockhopper penguins, Magellanic penguins, black-browed albatrosses, striated caracaras, blackish cinclodes, Cobb's wrens and white-bridled finches.[4] The waters around the islands are home to Commerson's dolphins.
References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wigglesworth, Angela. (1992) Falkland People. Pub. Peter Owen. ISBN 0-7206-0850-3
External links
West Point Island travel guide from Wikivoyage- Falklands photos, including West Point section
