11. Turret Point

11.Turret Point

62º05´00´´S, 57º55´00´´W

Eastern end of King George Island

Latest Revision: 2006

Key Features

- Southern Giant Petrels
- Blue-eyed Shags
- Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins
- Southern Elephant Seals
- Glacial Outwash Plain

Description

TOPOGRAPHY

Turret Point is marked by conspicuous rock stacks that form the eastern limit of King George Bay west of Three Sisters Point. There is a cobble beach on the southern coast and melt pools inland. The beach gently slopes to an extensive, heavily crevassed glacier.

FAUNA

Confirmed breeders: Adélie penguin, Antarctic tern, Blue-eyed shag, chinstrap Penguin, Kelp gull, Southern giant petrel.

Regularly haul out: Antarctic fur seal, Southern elephant seal, Weddell seal.

Suspected Breeders: Skua, Snowy sheathbill.

FLORA

Swards of moss species, the lichens Xanthoria spp., Caloplaca spp. and other crustose lichens.

Visitor Impact

KNOWN IMPACTS

None.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Trampling of vegetation en route to the glacier and disturbance of wildlife, particularly southern giant petrels.

Landing Requirements

SHIPS*

Max pax on board: 200
Ships at a time: 1
Comments: Maximum 2 ships per day (midnight to midnight).
* A ship is defined as a vessel which carries more than 12 passengers.

VISITORS

Maximum number of visitors at any time, exclusive of expedition guides and leaders: 100
Visitors per guide: 20
Curfew time period (from/to), in order to establish a rest period for wildlife: 22:00-04:00

Visitor Area

LANDING AREA

Primary: along an exposed broad cobble beach to the south, which may be packed with ice.

Secondary: to the west. If this is used, be sure to stay clear of nesting sites for southern giant petrel at both ends of the beach (Closed Areas A and B).

CLOSED AREA

Closed Area A: Biodiverse fragile area including nesting southern giant petrels, kelp gulls, chinstrap penguins, blue-eyed shags and elephant seals wallows.
Closed Area B: Nesting southern giant petrels.
Closed Area C: Elevated area above the beach with nesting southern giant petrels.

GUIDED WALKING AREA

Visitors to the glacier should be guided in small groups following the streambed to avoid trampling of vegetation.

FREE ROAMING AREA

Visitors may roam freely, but under supervision, between the landing beaches, avoiding the closed areas.

Visitor code of conduct

BEHAVIOUR ASHORE

Be careful near Antarctic fur seals, they may be aggressive.
Do not walk on any vegetation.
Walk slowly and carefully. Maintain a precautionary distance of 5 metres from wildlife and give animals the right-of-way. Increase this distance if any change in behaviour is observed.
When on the same level as, or higher than, nesting southern giant petrels, maintain a precautionary distance of at least 50 metres. Increase this distance if any change in the birds’ behaviour is observed.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

While weather conditions can change rapidly anywhere in the Antarctic, this location is particularly prone to such changes.

Turret Point from above - towards the primary landing beach


The glacial melt stream is clearly visible in times of limited snow and ice cover		Vegetation is scattered across the site

11. Turret Point

This content is not available

Section only available to Meeting Report Contributors

This section is not available

Restricted Section

Log In