Keppel Island
Encyclopedia
Keppel Island is one of the Falkland Islands
, lying between Saunders Island and Pebble Island
, and near Golding Island
to the north of West Falkland
on Keppel Sound
. It has an area of 3626 hectares (8,960 acre) and its highest point, Mt Keppel, is 341 metres (1,118.8 ft) high. There is a wide, flat valley in the centre of the island with several freshwater lakes. The central valley rises steeply to the south-west, west and north. The north-east is low-lying, with a deeply indented coastline. The main conservation issue is the large population of Norway rats on the island.
.
The island became a sheep farm in 1885, initially doubling as a missionary settlement aimed at the Yaghan
people of Tierra del Fuego
. More recently, it became a nature reserve
. It also has a small settlement on the east coast, but no permanent population.
in 1855, initially under Captain William Parker Snow
, and remained in operation until 1898. It had been proposed by Captain Allen Gardiner, founder of the Society, before his death in 1851, as a less hostile environment from which to gain the confidence of the Yaghan and learn their language. From 1856, several of the Yaghan were induced to move to Keppel Island, and learnt farming techniques and some English. After some setbacks, the mission succeeded in founding a mission at Ushuaia
in 1869, under the leadership of Waite Stirling
.
The Yahgans did not arrive on the island until a few years after the building of "Cranmer Station" (named for Thomas Cranmer
, the protestant martyr) near Committee Bay. One of the more famous visitors to Cranmer Station (in 1860) was Jemmy Button
who had learnt English, and visited England aboard the Beagle
in 1830-31.
Today, the mission bailiff's house, the chapel and the stone walls of the Yaghan dwellings still remain intact; some provide foundations for present day buildings. Today the ruins are listed buildings and represent amongst the oldest in the islands.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, lying between Saunders Island and Pebble Island
Pebble Island
Pebble Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north of West Falkland.The island stretches about 19 miles from east to west and is about 4.3 miles at its widest point, with a total area of square miles .It has three high points: First Mountain , Middle Mountain and...
, and near Golding Island
Golding Island
Golding Island is one of the Falkland Islands, just to the north of West Falkland in Keppel Sound and near Keppel and Pebble Islands. It has a complex shape, with narrow headlands and bays, and a pond in the middle....
to the north of West Falkland
West Falkland
West Falkland is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. It is a hilly island, separated from East Falkland by Falkland Sound. Its area is and its coastline is long. Including the adjacent small islands the land area is .-Population:The island has fewer than 200...
on Keppel Sound
Keppel Sound
Keppel Sound is a bay to the north of West Falkland in the Falkland Islands. Islands in/bordering the sound include Golding Island and Keppel Island....
. It has an area of 3626 hectares (8,960 acre) and its highest point, Mt Keppel, is 341 metres (1,118.8 ft) high. There is a wide, flat valley in the centre of the island with several freshwater lakes. The central valley rises steeply to the south-west, west and north. The north-east is low-lying, with a deeply indented coastline. The main conservation issue is the large population of Norway rats on the island.
History
The island is named after First Lord of the Admiralty, Admiral Augustus KeppelAugustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel
Admiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence...
.
The island became a sheep farm in 1885, initially doubling as a missionary settlement aimed at the Yaghan
Fuegians
Fuegians are the indigenous inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of South America. In English, the term originally referred to the Yaghan people of Tierra del Fuego...
people of Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of , and a group of smaller islands including Cape...
. More recently, it became a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
. It also has a small settlement on the east coast, but no permanent population.
Missionary station
The mission on Keppel Island was established by the South American Missionary SocietySouth American Missionary Society
The South American Mission Society was founded at Brighton in 1844 as the Patagonian Mission. Captain Allen Gardiner, R.N., was the first secretary. The name "Patagonian Mission" was retained for twenty years, when the new title was adopted...
in 1855, initially under Captain William Parker Snow
William Parker Snow
-Early life:William Parker Snow was born at Poole, England on 27 November 1817, the eldest son of Lieutenant William John Snow , a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812,and Harriet nee Parker...
, and remained in operation until 1898. It had been proposed by Captain Allen Gardiner, founder of the Society, before his death in 1851, as a less hostile environment from which to gain the confidence of the Yaghan and learn their language. From 1856, several of the Yaghan were induced to move to Keppel Island, and learnt farming techniques and some English. After some setbacks, the mission succeeded in founding a mission at Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
in 1869, under the leadership of Waite Stirling
Waite Hockin Stirling
Waite Hockin Stirling was a 19th century missionary with the Patagonian Missionary Society and was the first Anglican Bishop of the Falkland Islands....
.
The Yahgans did not arrive on the island until a few years after the building of "Cranmer Station" (named for Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
, the protestant martyr) near Committee Bay. One of the more famous visitors to Cranmer Station (in 1860) was Jemmy Button
Jemmy Button
Orundellico, known as "Jeremy Button" or "Jemmy Button", was a native Fuegian of the Yaghan people from islands around Tierra del Fuego, in modern Chile and Argentina...
who had learnt English, and visited England aboard the Beagle
HMS Beagle
HMS Beagle was a Cherokee-class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 11 May 1820 from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames, at a cost of £7,803. In July of that year she took part in a fleet review celebrating the coronation of King George IV of the United Kingdom in which...
in 1830-31.
Today, the mission bailiff's house, the chapel and the stone walls of the Yaghan dwellings still remain intact; some provide foundations for present day buildings. Today the ruins are listed buildings and represent amongst the oldest in the islands.