Steep cliffs dominate the western shores, while the east coast is broken by several large inlets.
Terrain is hilly, with deep gullies and numerous streams. The island lies midway between the Subtropical and Antarctic Convergences. Sealing continued into the 1830 s, by which time stocks were very depleted. Whaling operations also occurred around 1909-1914. A war time coast-watching station was manned from 1941 to 1945.