 Map of the Balleny Islands | |
  Balleny Islands Location in Antarctica | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 66°55′S 163°45′E / 66.917°S 163.750°E |
| Archipelago | Balleny Islands |
| Area | 800 km2 (310 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,705 m (5594 ft) |
| Highest point | Brown Peak |
| Administration | |
The Balleny Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the Southern Ocean, near Antarctica. They are located about 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) south of New Zealand.
The Balleny Islands are volcanic and mostly covered in ice and snow. There are three main islands:
There are also several smaller islets and rocks around them:
The islands are part of the Ross Dependency, claimed by New Zealand.
The islands were discovered in 1839 by John Balleny, a British sealer and explorer. He was sailing for a company trying to find new sealing grounds.The islands are very remote and hard to reach, so they have not been used much by people.
The Balleny Islands are important for wildlife. They are home to:
Some small plants grow there, like moss and lichens. The sea around the islands is also rich in marine life.
The islands are protected under the Antarctic Treaty System. This means they are used only for peaceful and scientific purposes.
They are also part of an Important Bird Area (IBA) because many seabirds nest there.
