Anyone who at another base gets something too serious too be handled by their own doctor, ends up in the Chilean hospital. The Polish and the Brazilians get their mail delivered by Chilean helicopter. The fact that Britain considers this part of the world British territory, is of no relevance to anyone on the island. Between the island chain and the mainland a crack runs through the ocean floor, parallel to the islands. Deception is horse-shoe shaped, enclosing a sheltered lagoon.
Some people think it is just one huge caldera.
Others think the horse-shoe shape is a coincidence, and the ring has been formed by a chain of smaller volcanoes. The South Shetlands are almost completely covered by ice. Only 2-3 percent is icefree, often along the coast. Back to island menu Back to main menu Elephant Island Elephant Island is one the easternmost islands in the South Shetlands. It is about 60 km long and 40 km wide, and like the other islands, it is mostly covered by ice.