Franklin Island is an island 7 nmi long, lying in the Ross Sea about 80 nmi east of Cape Hickey, Victoria Land, Antarctica.

Exploration and naming

Franklin Island was discovered on January 27, 1841 by James Clark Ross, and named for Sir John Franklin, the noted Arctic explorer, who as Governor of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) had royally entertained the expedition on its way south at Hobart in 1840.

Location

Though located just 80 km north of Beaufort Island and appearing at first glance to be part of the same group, it is not usually considered to be part of the Ross Archipelago. The island is the eroded remnant of a shield volcano that formed 4.8 +/- 2.0 million years ago, the vent of which is now submerged off the east coast. Franklin Island is about 290 m high at its highest point, and about 5 nmi long. There is an Adélie penguin rookery on its southwest shore. It terminates in Bernacchi Head in the south. The Norway Rocks are just south of the island.

Bernacchi Head

-76.13333°N, 168.33333°W. A precipitous cliff forming the south extremity of Franklin Island in the Ross Sea. Named "Cape Bernacchi" by the British Antarctic Expedition (1898-1900) for Louis C. Bernacchi, a member of the expedition. The generic has been changed to "Head" by the US-ACAN to avoid duplication with Cape Bernacchi on the coast of Victoria Land.

Norway Rocks

-76.16667°N, 168.33333°W. A reef of rocks, the charted position of which is doubtful, reported to extend about 4 nmi southward from Bernacchi Head, Franklin Island, in the Ross Sea. Discovered in 1841 by Ross. Named by C.E. Borchgrevink, a native of Norway, leader of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1898-1900.

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