Portal Point (POPT)
64˚30’S, 61˚46’W Magnetic declination: 14.8˚E Inventory subarea: NW Inventory acronym: POPT Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features This narrow point in the NE part of the Reclus Peninsula, on the W coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, extending from the Antarctic Peninsula into Charlotte Bay. It is where a Falkland Islands dependency Survey hut was established in 1956. The hut has now been removed to the Falklands Islands Museum in Stanley. Portal Point served as the gateway for a route to the polar plateau. Immediately behind the low point on which the hut was located the (usually snow-covered) land rises steeply upslope toward the plateau. The topography of the surrounding area is mountainous, with nunataks rising through the ice. Coastal outcrops and those beneath the hut are glacially polished and striated. On both sides of this site there are large glacial tongues extending down to sea level from the plateau's ice cap. These terminate against the sea in high ice cliffs, which expose crevasses showing blue ice inside. The steep glacial trough produces rugged-looking ice falls in the lower zones of these glaciers. Bare rock is exposed only along the shore, beneath an overhanging cover of snow and ice. The sea washes directly onto bare bedrock. There are many rounded boulders above and beneath the waterline. Charlotte Bay is often filled with icebergs. Landing Characteristics There is a paucity of wildlife in the vicinity, save for seals on floes in Charlotte Bay, and occasional, straggler kelp gulls, skuas, shags, or penguins. The main attraction was the British Antarctic Survey hut, which now has been removed to the Falklands Islands Museum. The slope above the point has been used by visitors for snow-sliding, and at its highest point, there are excellent views of Charlotte Bay. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. December 16, 1994 RN SF Explorer 2. November 21, 1995 RN LB Explorer 3. December 1, 1995 BH SF W. Discoverer 4. January 26, 1996 RD RP Livonia 5. December 6, 1998 RN SF Explorer Assessment and monitoring. Preliminary surveying, censusing, and photodocumentation (terrestrial). Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . No breeding species confirmed directly on site. Antarctic brown skuas, southern giant petrels, and gentoo penguins noted in the vicinity. Kelp gulls and blue-eyed shags breed elsewhere in Charlotte Bay. No site-specific penguin populations are listed in Woehler (1993) or Woehler & Croxall (1996). Seals . Weddell and crabeater seals may haul-out on the rocky edges of this site. Flora . Snow covered during Inventory visits; no flora visible. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities. None. Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites . Hydrurga Rocks is to the N. The Errera Channel and the Cuverville, Danco, Orne, and Rongé (Georges Point) Island visitor sites lie to the W. |
