Sacramento Bight

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Sacramento Bight is an open bight, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) wide, between Calf Head and Cape Harcourt on the north coast of South Georgia. The name "Pinguin-Bay" was given by the German group of the International Polar Year Investigations, 1882–83, to a small bay within the bight now described. The SGS, 1951–52, reported that a name is not necessary for this bay, and that the bight, which is known to whalers and sealers as Sacramento Bay, does require a name. In order to indicate the correct nature of the feature, and at the same time to conform to local usage, the name Sacramento Bight is approved.

Bight (geography) Shallowly concave bend or curve in a coastline, river, or other geographical feature

In geography, a bight is a bend or curve in a coastline, river, or other geographical feature. It typically indicates a large, open bay, often only slightly receding. It is distinguished from a sound by being shallower. Traditionally, explorers defined a bight as a bay that could be sailed out of on a single tack in a square-rigged sailing vessel, regardless of the direction of the wind.

Calf Head is a rocky headland on the north coast of South Georgia, 3 nautical miles (6 km) northwest of Cape Harcourt. The name "Kalber-Berg" was given by the German group of the International Polar Year Investigations, 1882–83, but was limited to the summit of the headland. The feature was surveyed by the South Georgia Survey, 1951–52, who reported that a name is more essential for its seaward extremity in order to distinguish it from Cape Harcourt, with which it is easily confused when viewed from the north and northwest. The English form of the name, Calf Head, was recommended by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1954. Sacramento Bight lies on the coast between Calf Head and Cape Harcourt.

Cape Harcourt is a headland on the eastern extremity of Harcourt Island on the north coast of South Georgia, forming the north side of the entrance to Royal Bay. The name dates back to at least 1920 and is now well established. Sacramento Bight lies on the coast between Cape Harcourt and Calf Head.

Coordinates: 54°29′S36°1′W / 54.483°S 36.017°W / -54.483; -36.017 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Sacramento Bight" (content from the Geographic Names Information System ).

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.

United States Geological Survey scientific agency of the United States government

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The USGS is a fact-finding research organization with no regulatory responsibility.


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