Elephant Island, off the coast of Antarctica, is known for hosting members of the Endurance Expedition in 1916. Today, it is rarely visited due to its hostile terrain and lack of natural harbor. Ernest Shackleton sailed for help from nearby South Georgia Island after recognizing the unlikelihood of rescue. The men left behind survived for four months, hunting seals for food and sheltering in tents. Elephant Island is now a habitat for seals and penguins, occasionally visited by researchers and travelers on Antarctic cruises.
Elephant Island is an island off the coast of Antarctica that became famous for hosting members of the Endurance Expedition for four months in 1916 as Ernest Shackleton sailed for help. Today, people rarely visit Elephant Island because the terrain and environment are extremely hostile and it is difficult to navigate and land on the island. Some Antarctic cruises manage to reach Elephant Island, mainly visiting the site for its historical interest more than anything else.
The island was named in 1821 by a passing explorer who noted a large population of elephant seals and a passing resemblance to an elephant’s head. Elephant Island is rocky and rugged and home to penguins as well as eponymous seals, but little else. The island has no natural harbor, so people find it difficult to land safely, and once you get there, there’s little to do but watch the low cloud cover and feel the gale-force winds blow.
In 1916, Ernest Shackleton and his men arrived on Elephant Island while slowly attempting to get out of Antarctica and seek help after this vessel, the Endurance, had been destroyed by sea ice. Shackleton recognized Elephant Island and realized that a ship was unlikely to pass and rescue the crew. Therefore, he decided to sail to nearby South Georgia Island, taking an open boat and a handful of men on the 800-mile (1,287-kilometer) voyage for assistance.
The men left behind held out for four months on Elephant Island, sheltering in their tents much of the time and hunting seals for food. They attempted to keep their spirits up with song and storytelling, but their time on the island was probably quite bleak. All of the men survived to be retrieved by the rescue vessel, however, a remarkable achievement considering the environment of Elephant Island and the history of deaths on Antarctic expeditions.
Researchers stop by Elephant Island occasionally to track local wildlife and to study the microorganisms that call the island home, as do some travelers on cruises to the Antarctic region. For much of the year, however, Elephant Island remains isolated from human contact, making it a great habitat for the seals and penguins that have lived on the island for centuries.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
