Geography Deception Island

looking wsw center of caldera

the island approximately circular diameter of 12 km (7.5 mi). peak on east side of island, mount pond, has elevation of 542 m (1,778 ft), , on half island covered glaciers. centre of island caldera formed in huge (vei-6) eruption has been flooded sea form large bay, called port foster, 9 km (5.6 mi) long , 6 km (3.7 mi) wide. bay has narrow entrance, 230 m (755 ft) wide, called neptune s bellows. adding hazard ravn rock, lies 2.5 m (8.2 ft) below water in middle of channel. inside neptune s bellows lies cove whalers bay, bordered large black sand beach.

several maars line inside rim of caldera, containing crater lakes (including 1 named crater lake). others form bays within harbour, such 1 km (0.6 mi) wide whalers bay. other features of island include mount achala, primero de mayo bay, sewing-machine needles, telefon bay , telefon ridge.

a 2016 study on ardley island, 120km northeast, examined lake guano sediments , studied penguin population dynamics on 7,000 years. 3 of 5 population growth phases terminated sudden crash, due volcanic eruptions active volcano of deception island.