Beaver Island, Falkland Islands


Beaver Island is one of the Beaver Island group of Falkland Islands. It lies west of Weddell Island and south of New Island and has an area of.
Other islands in the group include Staats Island, with an area of ; Tea Island, which covers ; Governor Island, which covers ; Split Island, with an area of and a few smaller islands. Though the smaller islands in the group are low-lying, the larger islands are very hilly, with many peaks of more than and some more than. The highest elevation in the Beaver Island Group is.

History and population

Beaver Island was named after the whaling vessel "Beaver" which was recorded as being the first whaling ship to double Cape Horn.
Beaver Settlement lies on the island, with an airstrip nearby. It is owned by Sally and Jerome Poncet.

Wildlife

Wildlife on the island includes gentoo penguins, South American gray foxes, peregrine falcons, southern and striated caracaras, guanacos, fur seals, and many seabirds. Beds of kelp can be found offshore.
The Beaver Island Group has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. At least 40 species have been recorded, with 34 known to breed there. Species for which the group is an important breeding site include Falkland steamer ducks, gentoo penguins, Magellanic penguins, and southern giant petrels.