Point Lookout, Elephant Island (LOOK)
61˚17’S, 55˚13’W Magnetic declination: 8.7˚E Inventory subarea: EI Inventory acronym: LOOK Site Sensitivity: LOW Note : Restricted visitor space Location — History — Features This steep, 240-meter-high bluff marks the S end of Elephant Island. The site name first appears on an 1822 map of the British sealer, Captain George Powell. The narrow spit W of the bluff may be used for zodiac landings, but only in the best of sea state and weather conditions, and when the rocky beach is not overrun by fur seals. Zodiac operations are likely to encounter high swell and spray. Nesting macaroni penguins may be observed more readily than in the Antarctic Peninsula, where they are much rarer. Landing Characteristics Uncharted water near shore. Hazardous rocks along the shoreline may be exposed, depending on the tide. Landing on exposed, rocky beach, surrounded by water on three sides, and often subjected to high swell and wind; beyond the beach, difficult hiking and walking because of the very rocky terrain and steep scree slopes. Very restricted visitor space because of topography, tide, swell, density of nesting penguins, and hauled-out seals. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. November 21, 1995 BH SF W. Discoverer 2. November 27, 1995 BH SF W. Discoverer 3. December 30, 1996 LB Hanseatic 4. December 28, 2002 RP Endeavour Assessment and monitoring . Prospective chinstrap penguin control colonies have been identified and preliminary censuses achieved, but this site has not been visited regularly by Inventory researchers. Additional characterization needs include: photodocumentation of ground features; photodocumentation and survey of floral communities; and a more complete description of geological features. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Chinstrap, gentoo, and macaroni penguins are confirmed nesters. No site-specific censuses of penguin breeding populations are reported in Woehler (1993) and Woehler & Croxall (1996). Pintado petrels may be found in large, offshore feeding flocks, and nest in the cliffs to the S of the landing beach. Wilson’s storm-petrels also are confirmed nesters in the talus at the base of these cliffs. Snowy sheathbill nesting also confirmed. Seals . Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals haul-out regularly. Weddell seals have been observed on the landing beach. Flora . Crustose lichens observed on exposed rocks. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities . Large numbers of chinstrap penguins in densely packed colonies, and smaller numbers of gentoo and macaroni penguins; all are easily approached and disturbed, especially in November and early December when adults will be incubating eggs; subsequently, adults will be guarding and provisioning chicks at the nest, then in crèche. Wallowing southern elephant seals are easily approached and disturbed. Favored haul-out site for Antarctic fur seals. Pointers for avoiding disruptions:
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites . Point Lookout and Point Wild are the Elephant Island sites most frequently visited by expedition ships. Point Lookout has more visitors, in great part because it lies closer to the South Shetland Islands in the Antarctic Peninsula. The landing beach at Point Wild (where Shackleton’s men camped) lies at a greater distance from the Peninsula, on the N side of Elephant Island, is frequently awash in surf, and may be overrun with fur seals. |
