Hydra Cove

Last updated
Location of Varna Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands. Varna-Peninsula-location-map.png
Location of Varna Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands.

Hydra Cove is a small cove indenting for 200 m the northwest coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica and entered north of Gargoyle Bastion.

Varna Peninsula

Varna Peninsula is a roughly rectangular predominantly ice-covered peninsula forming the northeast extremity of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It is bounded by Hero Bay to the northwest, by Moon Bay to the southeast, and by McFarlane Strait to the northeast.

Livingston Island Island of the South Shetland Islands

Livingston Island is an Antarctic island, part of the South Shetlands Archipelago in the Southern Ocean. It was the first land discovered south of 60° south latitude in 1819, a historic event that marked the end of a centuries-long pursuit of the mythical Terra Australis Incognita and the beginning of the exploration and utilization of real Antarctica. The name Livingston, although of unknown derivation, has been well established in international usage since the early 1820s.

South Shetland Islands A group of islands north of the Antarctic Peninsula

The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of 3,687 square kilometres (1,424 sq mi). They lie about 120 kilometres (75 mi) north of the Antarctic Peninsula, and between 430 kilometres (270 mi) to 900 kilometres (560 mi) south-west from the nearest point of the South Orkney Islands. By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for non-military purposes.

Contents

The feature is named after the Lernaean Hydra, a monster with nine heads slain by Hercules.

Lernaean Hydra ancient serpent-like chthonic water beast, with reptilian traits, that possessed many heads, in Greek mythology

The Lernaean Hydra or Hydra of Lerna, more often known simply as the Hydra, is a serpentine water monster in Greek and Roman mythology. Its lair was the lake of Lerna in the Argolid, which was also the site of the myth of the Danaïdes. Lerna was reputed to be an entrance to the Underworld, and archaeology has established it as a sacred site older than Mycenaean Argos. In the canonical Hydra myth, the monster is killed by Heracles (Hercules) as the second of his Twelve Labors.

Hercules Roman adaptation of the Greek divine hero Heracles

Hercules is a Roman hero and god. He was the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.

Location

The cove is centred at 62°27′54″S60°08′15″W / 62.46500°S 60.13750°W / -62.46500; -60.13750 which is 17.7 km northeast of Siddins Point and 1.42 km south of Williams Point (British mapping in 1968, and Bulgarian mapping in 2005 and 2009).

Siddins Point

Siddins Point is a point projecting into the middle of the head of Hero Bay on the north coast of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Named by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC) in 1958 for Captain Richard Siddins, Master of the Australian sealer Lynx of Sydney, who visited the South Shetland Islands in 1820-21 and 1821-22. Until 2011 the name was incorrectly spelt 'Siddons Point'.

Williams Point

Williams Point is the point forming both the north extremity of Varna Peninsula and the northeast tip of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Separated from Zed Islands to the north by Iglika Passage.

Maps

International Standard Book Number Unique numeric book identifier

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.

Related Research Articles

Eliseyna Cove cove

Eliseyna Cove is a 3 km wide cove indenting for 1.4 km in the northwest coast of Varna Peninsula between Slab Point to the north and Kotis Point to the south. The cove is named after the Iskar Gorge settlement of Eliseyna in western Bulgaria.

Pomorie Point

Pomorie Point is a point on the coast of McFarlane Strait forming the north side of the entrance to Lister Cove, Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.

Sigritsa Point

Sigritsa Point is an ice-free point on the northeast coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica forming the northwest side of the entrance to Dragon Cove. The area was visited by 19th century sealers.

Ballester Point

Ballester Point is a point forming the south side of the entrance to Johnsons Dock and the northeast side of the entrance to Española Cove in Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The area was visited by early 19th century sealers operating from Johnsons Dock.

Zornitsa Cove

Zornitsa Cove is the 7 km wide cove indenting for 3.1 km the north coast of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Entered between Rowe Point and Scesa Point on the west side of Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula. Bulgarian mapping in 2009.

Lister Cove cove

Lister Cove is a 2.1 km wide cove indenting for 1.55 km the northeast coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica south of Pomorie Point and north of Karavelova Point. The cove is fed by Rose Valley Glacier.

Dragon Cove cove

Dragon Cove is a 550 m wide cove indenting for 600 m the northeast coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica entered between Sigritsa Point and Ficheto Point. Surmounted by Sayer Nunatak on the southwest. The area was visited by early 19th century sealers.

Johnsons Dock cove

Johnsons Dock is a sheltered 500 m wide cove indenting for 900 m the northwest coast of Hurd Peninsula on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It is part of South Bay entered north of Ballester Point. Surmounted by Charrúa Ridge on the northeast. The cove was frequented by early 19th century sealers.

Sayer Nunatak

Sayer Nunatak is a rocky peak rising to 210 m south of Williams Point on Varna Peninsula, at the north edge of the ice cap of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The nunatak is forming the north extremity of Vidin Heights and surmounting Dragon Cove to the northeast, Griffin Cove to the north-northwest and Charybdis Cove to the southwest.

Polish Bluff

Polish Bluff is a point forming the southwest side of the entrance to Española Cove and the northeast side of the entrance to Argentina Cove in Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The area was visited by early 19th century sealers operating from nearby Johnsons Dock.

Henry Bluff

Henry Bluff is a point forming the southwest side of the entrance to Argentina Cove and the north side of the entrance to Las Palmas Cove in Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The point is dominated by a prominent monolithic formation rising to 163 m and named El Peñón by personnel of the nearby Spanish Antarctic Base. The area was visited by early 19th century sealers operating from nearby Johnsons Dock.

Sally Rocks

Sally Rocks is a small group of rocks trending southwestwards in South Bay just off the west coast of Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.

Española Cove cove

Española Cove is a 1.2 km wide embayment indenting for 250 m the northwest coast of Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It is part of South Bay entered between Ballester Point and Polish Bluff. The cove is used for the transfer of people and cargo to the Spanish base Juan Carlos I situated at its head. The area was frequented by early 19th century sealers operating from nearby Johnsons Dock.

Argentina Cove cove

Argentina Cove is a 1.28 km wide embayment indenting for 330 m the southeast coast of Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It is part of South Bay, entered between Polish Bluff and Henry Bluff. The area was frequented by early 19th century sealers operating from nearby Johnsons Dock.

Las Palmas Cove cove

Las Palmas Cove is a 1.97 km wide embayment indenting for 500 m the northwest coast of Hurd Peninsula on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It is part of South Bay, Livingston Island entered between Henry Bluff and Salisbury Bluff. The area was visited by early 19th century sealers operating from nearby Johnsons Dock. It also where the Las Palmas Glacier terminates.

Slab Point

Slab Point is a rocky point on the northwest coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica forming the north side of the entrance to Eliseyna Cove and the south side of the entrance to Charybdis Cove.

Gargoyle Bastion

Gargoyle Bastion is a rocky headland rising to 60 m on the northwest coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica and forming the south side of the entrance to Hydra Cove and the northeast side of the entrance to Griffin Cove. It has sub-vertical cliff faces to seaward, and is flanked to north and south by rock cliffs.

Charybdis Cove cove in the South Shetland Islands

Charybdis Cove is the 1.2 km wide cove indenting for 580 m the northwest coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica and entered between Organpipe Point to the north and Slab Point to the south.

Griffin Cove cove in the South Shetland Islands

Griffin Cove is the 800 m wide cove indenting for 260 m the northwest coast of Varna Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica and entered between Gargoyle Bastion to the northeast and Organpipe Point to the southwest.

References