Deception Island
Antarctica

Deception Island • Antarctica Travel Guide
This active volcano is one of the Southern Shetland Islands off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, and long since it blew its top, the caldera in its centre has flooded with sea water enabling ships to sail into the crater itself. With just a narrow entrance, this has provided a safe haven from the stormy Southern Ocean for many a vessel.

Deception Volcano
The main volcanic extrusion above the waterline is around seven miles across, forming a horseshoe around the flooded centre, the volcano having last had a major eruption in 1969.

Mount Pond and Mount Kirkwood
Its highest point is Mount Pond on the east side at around 1778ft, the other mountain being Mount Kirkwood on the west side.
Port Foster
Flooded by seawater through the narrow and hazardous entrance Neptune's Bellows (which hides a treacherous submerged rock) the caldera has been a port in a storm to many ships.
Whalers Bay and Kroner Lake
Once as the name suggests home to whalers of times gone by, this eerie bay is located just to the right of the Neptune's Bellows entrance. The black volcanic sands of the beach with remnants of the old whaling station lead into clear waters, all scattered with whale bones. Digging holes in the sand and creating warm pools is now a favorite activity here.
Kroner Lake
A unique geothermic lagoon with extremes of temperature, fed by both hot fresh and cold salt water, is of scientific interest.
Pendulum Cove
Pendulum Crater is a large flooded volcanic crater that is surrounded by black cliffs and volcanic ash. the area is popular with fur seals who are often seen resting on the beaches. Heat from the volcano warms up the water close to the shore here and swimming both in the cove and in small dug out pools on the shore is a popular and unique experience.

Stancomb Cove
This cove was named after a survey boat called Stancomb-Wills and was formed fairly recently after volcanic eruptions in the area.
Bailey Head
This is the place to go if you wish to see a chinstrap penguins who quite simply take over the shore and hillside here, offering spectacular photographic opportunities.

Fumarole Micro-Climates
The steaming fumaroles on the island can create areas which are much warmer (bathing suit warm) than the nearby surrounds. Travellers are fond of taking a warm dip here, and sometimes going from a warm pool to the icy sea.

Wildlife
The warming nature of the volcanic activity and the caldera make for some unique aspects to the flora and fauna of the island. Most notably:

Chinstrap Penguins
Several colonies on the island, included the largest in the world of the species at Bailey Head.
Mosses, Lichens and Worts
Several species of these primitive plants, two of which are endemic (found only on the island).

Deception Island Antarctica

Deception Island
Antarctica