Biruni Island (Bulgarian: остров Бируни, romanized: ostrov Biruni, IPA: [ˈɔstrov biˈruni]) is the rocky island off the north coast of Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica 450 m long in southwest–northeast direction and 150 m wide, with a surface area of 3.59 ha. It is separated from Elephant Island by a passage narrowing to 70 m at points. The island was formed as a result of the retreat of Elephant Island's ice cap at the turn of the 21st century.
Biruni Island Location in the South Shetland Islands Biruni Island Location in Antarctica | |
Geography | |
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Location | Antarctica |
Coordinates | 61°06′32.5″S 54°59′04″W / 61.109028°S 54.98444°W |
Archipelago | South Shetland Islands |
Area | 3.59 ha (8.9 acres) |
Length | 450 m (1480 ft) |
Width | 150 m (490 ft) |
Administration | |
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty | |
Demographics | |
Population | uninhabited |
The feature is named after Abu Rayhan Biruni (973-1048), an Iranian scholar who proposed the use of triangulation to measure distances and position places; in association with other names in the area deriving from the early development or use of geodetic instruments and methods.
Biruni Island is centred at 61°06′32.5″S 54°59′04″W / 61.109028°S 54.98444°W,[1] which is 21.3 km east-southeast of Cape Yelcho, 880 m southwest of Saffar Island, 6.56 km west-southwest of Point Wild and 820 m west-northwest of Ronalds Point. British mapping of the area in 1822,1972 and 2009.
This article includes information from the Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria which is used with permission.