Bellingshausen Island

Bellingshausen Island is a small, uninhabited volcanic island in the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It forms part of the remote island chain south of the Atlantic subpolar front.

There are no facilities or settlements on the island and visits are limited to scientific expeditions and occasional cruise ship landings by inflatable boat. The coastline is largely steep and rocky, and the island is noted for its volcanic terrain and seabird colonies; safe landings are frequently prevented by weather and swell.

The island is named after the Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and was charted during early 19th century Antarctic and sub-Antarctic exploration. It has no record of permanent human habitation and has been visited only sporadically for mapping and scientific observation.

Bellingshausen Island sits in the southern Atlantic as part of the South Sandwich Islands chain, administered from the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The group lies well south of the subtropical convergence and is remote from major population centers.

• Uninhabited: There is no permanent population and landings are extremely rare because of steep shores and harsh weather.
• Administration: Part of the remote South Sandwich Islands chain administered as part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.