Volunteer Point is a headland on the east coast ofEast Falkland, in theFalkland Islands, north-northeast ofStanley, and east ofJohnson's Harbour andBerkeley Sound. It lies at the end of a narrow peninsula, which protects Volunteer Lagoon. It is named after the shipVolunteer, which visited the islands in 1815. Volunteer Point hosts the islands' largestking penguin colony along its beach.
Volunteer Point is one of the easternmost points of the islands, butCape Pembroke is the furthest east.[1] It received its name in 1815, after the shipVolunteer visited theFalkland Islands.[2] During theFalklands War, Argentine commanders considered it a potential British landing point because it was far from continental Argentine airbases (e.g. Rio Grande,Comodoro Rivadavia), and those atPebble Island and as a strategic foothold for any British force wishing to retakeStanley. However, in the event, the British landings took place onSan Carlos Water in the west of East Falkland, onFalkland Sound.[1]
Volunteer Point was designated aNational Nature Reserve in 1968 and is classified as anImportant Bird Area (IBA FK21) byBirdLife International. The area lies within Johnson's Harbour Farm, which is privately owned and locally managed.[3] The landscape is characterized by a 3.2 kilometers (2.0 mi) white sand beach known as Volunteer Beach, bordered by grassy banks and rolling terrain. The headland features hardquartz-sandstone formations, among the oldestsedimentary rocks in the Falkland Islands.[4]
Volunteer Point hosts the islands' largestking penguin colony along its beach.[5] Birds for which the site is of conservation significance includeFalkland steamer ducks (75 breeding pairs),ruddy-headed geese (100 pairs),gentoo penguins (3600 pairs as of March 2014),Magellanic penguins (estimated to be 2500 pairs as of March 2014) andwhite-bridled finches.[6]
More than 40 other bird species have been recorded in the area, such as theSouth American tern,rock shag,kelp gull,dolphin gull, and variousoystercatcher andgoose species.[4] Southern sea lions are also frequently observed and are known to prey on penguins.[4][7] Predatory birds includingskuas andsouthern giant petrels have been documented taking eggs and chicks.[8]
Volunteer Point is a popularecotourism destination, accessible via an overland vehicle journey of approximately three hours fromStanley or by helicopter. Access generally requires the landowner's permission, and is usually permitted when conditions are dry. Accommodation is available at the site in the warden's house.[4]
A study conducted during the 2001–2002 tourist season recorded 1,072 visitors between November and March. Overseas tourists accounted for 57% of visits, local residents 24%, andBritish military personnel 19%. Peak visitation occurred in December and January. Most visitors spend time at the king penguin colony, averaging 63 minutes per visit, and also explore the gentoo penguin colony and Volunteer Beach. Visitor activity is largely concentrated between 11:00 and 15:00, which may allow resident penguins to habituate to human presence.[9]
Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
51°28′16″S57°50′42″W / 51.47111°S 57.84500°W /-51.47111; -57.84500