Biruni Island

Biruni Island
Biruni Island
Location in the South Shetland Islands
Biruni Island
Location in Antarctica
Geography
LocationAntarctica
Coordinates61°06′32.5″S 54°59′04″W / 61.109028°S 54.98444°W / -61.109028; -54.98444
ArchipelagoSouth Shetland Islands
Area3.59 ha (8.9 acres)
Length450 m (1480 ft)
Width150 m (490 ft)
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty
Demographics
Populationuninhabited

Biruni Island (Bulgarian: остров Бируни, romanized: ostrov Biruni, IPA: [ˈɔstrov biˈruni]) is the rocky island off the north coast of Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica 450 m long in southwest–northeast direction and 150 m wide, with a surface area of 3.59 ha. It is separated from Elephant Island by a passage narrowing to 70 m at points. The island was formed as a result of the retreat of Elephant Island's ice cap at the turn of the 21st century.

The feature is named after Abu Rayhan Biruni (973-1048), an Iranian scholar who proposed the use of triangulation to measure distances and position places; in association with other names in the area deriving from the early development or use of geodetic instruments and methods.