COMPOSITE GAZETTEER OF ANTARCTICA

extending N-S and separating Hearst Island from Wilkins Coast, was photographed from the air by Wilkins, 20 December 1928, and named Stefansson Strait after Dr Vilhjalmur Stefansson (1879-1962), American Arctic explorer. Wilkins described the feature as a wide channel in c. 70°40'S, trending SW and then W from Weddell Sea into Bellingshausen Sea, and separating Graham Land from the mainland of Antarctica. Also named Boggs Strait after SW Boggs, USA, 1943. Following survey by FIDS-RARE from "Stonington Island" in November 1947, the identity of the present feature was finally established Stefansson Strait (USBGN, 1947; USA chart, 1947). Stefansson Sound (APC, 1953). For further information see British Antarctic Territory Gazetteer.

An ice-filled strait 35 mi long and 3 to 10 mi wide, between the E coast of Palmer Land and Hearst Island. This strait was first sighted by Sir Hubert Wilkins at the S end of his flight of Dec. 20, 1928, and was named by him for Vilhjalmur Stefansson. He believed it to be a strait cutting off what is now known to be Antarctic Peninsula from the main land mass of Antarctica. The true orientation of the strait was determined by members of the USAS who charted this coast by land and from the air in 1940.

Este estrecho fue avistado por Sir Hubert Wilkins en el extremo S en su vuelo del 20 de diciembre de 1928 y le dio el nombre de Vilhjalmer Stefansson. Wilkins creyó que era un estrecho que cortaba la península Tierra de O'Higgins. La verdadera orientación del estrecho fue determinada por una expedición del EE.UU. que cartografiaron esta costa en 1940. En una carta chilena de 1947 se le dio el nombre de estrecho Stefansson a lo que ahora conocemos como ensenada Smith, un poco más al S, y estrecho Boggs al actual estrecho Stefansson. Estrecho helado de unas 40 millas de largo por unas 4 de ancho que está situado entre la isla Hearst y la costa E de la península Tierra de O'Higgins.