Biscoe Islands

The Biscoe Islands are a group of islands off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula in the Southern Ocean. They were named for the British explorer John Biscoe, who charted parts of the Antarctic coastline in the early 19th century.

The archipelago comprises numerous small, rocky islands and islets, many of them uninhabited and often rimed with sea ice for much of the year; wildlife such as seabirds and seals frequents the islands. Visits are seasonal and normally confined to the Antarctic summer when sea and ice conditions allow landing by research vessels or expedition cruises.

The islands were first sighted and charted during early Antarctic exploration voyages in the 19th century and have since been included in scientific mapping and biological surveys. Their remoteness means human activity is largely scientific or transient.

Geographically the Biscoe Islands lie to the west of the northern Antarctic Peninsula, within the maritime Antarctic region, and are accessed from research stations or ships operating in the peninsula’s surrounding waters.

• Name and location: Named for British explorer John Biscoe, the island group lies off the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and includes numerous small rocky islands and islets.
• Access and visitation: Remote and largely uninhabited, the islands are visited mainly by scientific parties and occasional expedition cruises in the austral summer.