Elephant Island Antarctica (South Shetlands)

Elephant Island is an uninhabited ice-covered mountainous island located off the coast of Antarctica in the South Shetland Islands' outer reaches, in the Southern Ocean. The name if the island was given by early explorers who sighted elephant seals on the shores.

The island has a total area of 558 km2 (215 mi2). It is situated 245 km (152 mi) north-northeast of Antarctic Peninsula's tip, 1253 km (779 mi) west-southwest of South Georgia, 935 km (581 mi) south of Falkland Islands UK, and 885 km (550 mi) southeast of Cape Horn.

Most cruise ships to Elephant Island anchor off Half Moon Island.

Elephant Island is within the Antarctic claims of the UK, Argentina and Chile. Brazil has 2 shelters (Wiltgen and Goeldi) each supporting up to 6 researchers during the summer months.

The island is oriented east-west and has highest elevation 2800 ft/853 m (at Pardo Ridge). Important features include Cape Lookout, Cape Yelcho and Cape Valentine at the southern and northeastern extremes, as well as Point Wild, which is a spit located on the north coast. Endurance Glacier is the major discharge glacier. Because of the slow recovery and illegal whaling by Japan, the numbers of southern right whales visiting Elephant Island are on low level.

As most Antarctica islands, Elephant Island supports no native fauna or significant flora although migratory seals and gentoo penguins may be found. Chinstrap penguins nest during summer. The lack of safe anchorage prevented permanent human settlement, though the island is well placed to support fishing, whaling and scientific activities.

Point Wild contains Endurance Memorial Site, an Antarctic Historic Site with a bust of Capt. Pardo and a few plaques. Hampson Cove on the island's southwestern coast, including the intertidal and foreshore area, contains wreckage of a large wooden sailship. It has been designated Historic Site or Monument, following a proposal by the UK to Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.