  Dion Islands Location in Antarctica | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 67°52′S68°43′W / 67.867°S 68.717°W /-67.867; -68.717 |
| Administration | |
| Administered under theAntarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
TheDion Islands are a group of small islands and rocks lying in the northern part ofMarguerite Bay, 11 kilometres (6 nmi) south-west of Cape Alexandra,Adelaide Island, off the west coast of theAntarctic Peninsula. They were discovered by theFrench Antarctic Expedition, 1908–10, and named byJean-Baptiste Charcot for the MarquisJules-Albert de Dion, who donated threemotor sledges and whoseDe Dion-Bouton works produced equipment for the expedition.[1]
It is also the site of a memorial of three lost men from theBritish Antarctic Survey who died in 1958, after a fierce storm drifted the men on the ice they were camped on out to open sea.
The islands have been identified as anImportant Bird Area (IBA) byBirdLife International because they support abreeding colony of about 500 pairs ofimperial shags. There is also a small colony of about 150 pairs ofemperor penguins, the second-most northerly known of this species (the most northerly beingSnow Hill Island) and one of only two on land. The site has been designated anAntarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 107) because of the penguin colony. However, this colony was reported lost due to climatic changes in 2011.[2][3][4]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from"Dion Islands".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey.
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