Not to be confused with the smaller Sea Lion Island in Choiseul Sound or the Sea Lions Island in the Beagle Channel.
Sea Lion Island (Spanish: Isla de los Leones Marinos) is the largest of the Sea Lion Island Group of the Falkland Islands. It is 9 km2 (3 sq mi) in area.[3][1] and lies 14 km (9 mi) southeast of Lafonia (East Falkland). It was designated a Ramsar site on 24 September 2001,[4] and as an Important Bird Area (BirdLife International 2006). In 2017 the island was designated as a National Nature Reserve.
Sea Lion Island is 7.8 km (4.8 mi) long from east to west and 2.3 km (1.4 mi) wide, with 30 m (98 ft) cliffs at the south-western point and sandy bays to the east.[3] The highest point at 46 m (151 ft) is Bull Hill.[1] East Loafers is the name of the bay on the southern shore. It also has a few ponds, including Beaver and Long Pond. Just to the south is Rum Island,[3] a small seal colony. Other small members of the group are Brandy and Whisky Islands.[3] The geology is mainly sandstone and mudstone, from about 250 million years ago. Some minor fossils have been found.
Historyedit
Sea Lion Island is the southernmost inhabited island of the Falkland Islands. Only formerly inhabited Beauchene Island is located further south. Sea Lion Island Settlement is the southernmost settlement of the Falkland Islands. The island has an airstrip. Historically, Sea Lion Island was a sheep farm. When the British ship Viscount was wrecked in 1892, the wreckage was used to build the farmhouse.[1]
The island was managed as a sheep farm for almost all of the 20th century, but in 1997 all but a small flock of sheep was removed.[3] In 1990, the Clifton family who owned the island, sold it to the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC). They had planted 60,000 stands of tussac grass.[5] Since then, ecotourism has been the only economic activity. In 1986 FIDC constructed the Sea Lion Lodge, with accommodation for 20 guests. It was prefabricated and flown in kit form to the island by Royal Air Force helicopters and has proved to be a success. It is used by tourists and, since 1996, scientific researchers.[1] Since 2017 the Lodge and island has been under the lease of Wild Falkland Ltd.
There is a memorial to HMS Sheffield on Bull Hill in the south of the island.
Flora and faunaedit
Some 56 species of flowering plants have been recorded, including the Fuegian violet which, in the Falklands, is found nowhere else.[3] The island is known for its marine mammals, including breeding colonies of southern sea lions and southern elephant seals, for which the other islands in the group are haul-out sites.[3]Killer whales are seen offshore. Elephant Seal Research Group (ESRG) has been tracking the habits of elephant seals at Sea Lion Island for over 20 years.[citation needed]
^Wigglesworth, Angela. (1992) Falkland People. Pub. Peter Owen. ISBN0-7206-0850-3
Stonehouse, B (ed.) Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans (2002, ISBN0-471-98665-8)
External linksedit
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sea Lion Island.
Sealionisland.com
Falkland Islands, including Sea Lion island section
Pictures from Sea Lion Island
Long term study of Sea Lion Island elephant seals
December 20, 2023
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Not to be confused with the smaller Sea Lion Island in Choiseul Sound or the Sea Lions Island in the Beagle Channel Sea Lion Island Spanish Isla de los Leones Marinos is the largest of the Sea Lion Island Group of the Falkland Islands It is 9 km2 3 sq mi in area 3 1 and lies 14 km 9 mi southeast of Lafonia East Falkland It was designated a Ramsar site on 24 September 2001 4 and as an Important Bird Area BirdLife International 2006 In 2017 the island was designated as a National Nature Reserve Sea Lion Island Isla de los Leones MarinosIslandImperial shags on outcrop on Sea Lion IslandSea Lion IslandSea Lion Island shown within the Falkland IslandsCoordinates 52 26 S 59 05 W 52 433 S 59 083 W 52 433 59 083CountryFalkland IslandsMain settlementSea Lion Island SettlementArea Total9 05 km2 3 49 sq mi Highest elevation Bull Hill 1 46 m 151 ft Time zoneUTC 3 FKST If shown area and population ranks are for all islands and all inhabited islands in the Falklands respectively Ramsar WetlandDesignated24 September 2001Reference no 1104 2 Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Flora and fauna 3 1 Birds 4 References 5 External linksDescription editSea Lion Island is 7 8 km 4 8 mi long from east to west and 2 3 km 1 4 mi wide with 30 m 98 ft cliffs at the south western point and sandy bays to the east 3 The highest point at 46 m 151 ft is Bull Hill 1 East Loafers is the name of the bay on the southern shore It also has a few ponds including Beaver and Long Pond Just to the south is Rum Island 3 a small seal colony Other small members of the group are Brandy and Whisky Islands 3 The geology is mainly sandstone and mudstone from about 250 million years ago Some minor fossils have been found History editSea Lion Island is the southernmost inhabited island of the Falkland Islands Only formerly inhabited Beauchene Island is located further south Sea Lion Island Settlement is the southernmost settlement of the Falkland Islands The island has an airstrip Historically Sea Lion Island was a sheep farm When the British ship Viscount was wrecked in 1892 the wreckage was used to build the farmhouse 1 The island was managed as a sheep farm for almost all of the 20th century but in 1997 all but a small flock of sheep was removed 3 In 1990 the Clifton family who owned the island sold it to the Falkland Islands Development Corporation FIDC They had planted 60 000 stands of tussac grass 5 Since then ecotourism has been the only economic activity In 1986 FIDC constructed the Sea Lion Lodge with accommodation for 20 guests It was prefabricated and flown in kit form to the island by Royal Air Force helicopters and has proved to be a success It is used by tourists and since 1996 scientific researchers 1 Since 2017 the Lodge and island has been under the lease of Wild Falkland Ltd There is a memorial to HMS Sheffield on Bull Hill in the south of the island Flora and fauna editSome 56 species of flowering plants have been recorded including the Fuegian violet which in the Falklands is found nowhere else 3 The island is known for its marine mammals including breeding colonies of southern sea lions and southern elephant seals for which the other islands in the group are haul out sites 3 Killer whales are seen offshore Elephant Seal Research Group ESRG has been tracking the habits of elephant seals at Sea Lion Island for over 20 years citation needed nbsp Striated Caracara on Sealion IslandBirds edit The Sea Lion Islands Group has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area It is a significant breeding site for a variety of seabirds and other waterbirds including Falkland steamer ducks ruddy headed geese gentoo penguins 2800 pairs southern rockhopper penguins 480 pairs Magellanic penguins southern giant petrels 25 pairs and sooty shearwaters It also supports populations of striated caracaras 10 pairs blackish cinclodes Cobb s wrens and white bridled finches 3 References edit a b c d e Falklands Philatelic Bureau Islands Series Part 4 Sea Lion Island Sea Lion Island Ramsar Sites Information Service Retrieved 25 April 2018 a b c d e f g h Sea Lion Islands Group Important Bird Areas factsheet BirdLife International 2012 Retrieved 1 October 2012 Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands Wigglesworth Angela 1992 Falkland People Pub Peter Owen ISBN 0 7206 0850 3 Stonehouse B ed Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans 2002 ISBN 0 471 98665 8 External links edit nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sea Lion Island Sealionisland com Falkland Islands including Sea Lion island section Pictures from Sea Lion Island Long term study of Sea Lion Island elephant seals Wildlife images from Sealion Island Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sea Lion Island amp oldid 1085175937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
