COMPOSITE GAZETTEER OF ANTARCTICA

Fue denominada, por el capitán del bergantín "Williams", William Smith en 1819 mientras realizaba un crucero por la costa N de la islas. Forman un grupo de once islas situadas al N de la península Luis Felipe entre los paralelos 61º S y 63º 20' S y se extienden en dirección ENE-WNW por 180 millas entre los meridianos 54º y 63º W, las islas son en su mayor parte montañosas, de características marcadamente volcánicas y están cubiertas por una gruesa capa de hielo. Sólo en verano, algunas partes quedan libres de hielo donde crecen algunas formas primitivas de plantas, como musgos y líquenes.

between 61°00'S and 63°00'S, 54'00'W and 62°45'W, comprising from W to E Smith Island, Snow Island, Livingston Island, Deception Island, Greenwich Island, Robert Island, Nelson Island, King George Island, Gibbs Island, Elephant Island, and Clarence Island, with offliers, were sighted by William Smith at Livingston Island, 19 February 1819; roughly charted by Smith later in the same year and taken into possession in the name of King George III, 16 October, at King George Island. In his proclamation, Smith called the islands New South Britain, 1821, but later changed the name to South Shetland or New South Shetland, because the islands lie in about the same latitude as the Shetland Islands in the N Hemisphere. New or South Shetland (GBR chart, 1822). South Shetland Islands (GBR chart 1839; APC, 1953). For further information see British Antarctic Territory Gazetteer.

A group of more than twenty islands and islets lying northward of Antarctic Peninsula and extending about 280 mi from Smith Island and Snow Island in the WSW to Elephant Island and Clarence Island in the ENE The islands were sighted by Capt. William Smith of the brig Williams in February 1819 while cruising close to the northern edge of the islands. The name "New South Britain" was used briefly, but was soon changed to South Shetland Islands. The name is now established international usage.