Penguin Islands, Namibia
Encyclopedia
The Penguin Islands are a group of islands and rocks situated along a stretch of 355 km along the coastline of Namibia
, which formally lists them as the Off-Shore islands. The largest island is Possession Island with 0.90 km² in area. Hollam's Bird Island is the most northern and, at a distance of 10.3 kilometers, the farthest from the coast. All islands together measure 2.35 km² in area.
Rich in guano
and strategically located, between 1861 and 1867 the islands were annexed by Britain, and formally placed under the Cape Colony
in 1873. Confusion over the legality of the transfer required the colony to reaffirm the annexation in 1874. This status was recognized by Germany in 1886. Thus, although close to the mainland they were not part of German Southwest Africa.
Because of their geographic separation from South Africa the islands were considered to be a separate entity ("country") for amateur radio
purposes.
In 1990 South-West Africa gained independence as Namibia. But the Penguin Islands remained under South African sovereignty, thus letting it retain an Exclusive Economic Zone
off the Namibian coast. Finally, after further negotiation, at midnight on 28 February 1994 sovereignty over the islands, as well as Walvis Bay
, were formally transferred to Namibia.
Listed from the most northern to the most southern, the islands include the Penguin Islands (in the historic, narrower sense - printed in bold):
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, which formally lists them as the Off-Shore islands. The largest island is Possession Island with 0.90 km² in area. Hollam's Bird Island is the most northern and, at a distance of 10.3 kilometers, the farthest from the coast. All islands together measure 2.35 km² in area.
Rich in guano
Guano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
and strategically located, between 1861 and 1867 the islands were annexed by Britain, and formally placed under the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
in 1873. Confusion over the legality of the transfer required the colony to reaffirm the annexation in 1874. This status was recognized by Germany in 1886. Thus, although close to the mainland they were not part of German Southwest Africa.
Because of their geographic separation from South Africa the islands were considered to be a separate entity ("country") for amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
purposes.
In 1990 South-West Africa gained independence as Namibia. But the Penguin Islands remained under South African sovereignty, thus letting it retain an Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
off the Namibian coast. Finally, after further negotiation, at midnight on 28 February 1994 sovereignty over the islands, as well as Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
, were formally transferred to Namibia.
Listed from the most northern to the most southern, the islands include the Penguin Islands (in the historic, narrower sense - printed in bold):
- Hollam's Bird Island (S 24° 38' 0 E 14° 31' 0)
- Mercury Island (S 25° 43' 0 E 14° 50' 0)
- Ichaboe Island (S 25° 43' 0 E 14° 50' 0)
- Black Rock (S 26° 5' 0 E 14° 58' 0)
- Staple Rock (S 26° 22' 0 E 14° 58' 0)
- Marshall Reef (S 26° 22' 0 E 14° 58' 0)
- Boat Bay Rocks (S 26° 25' 0 E 15° 5' 0)
- Seal Island (Lüderitz Bay) (S 26° 36' 0 E 15° 9' 0)
- Penguin Island (Lüderitz Bay) (S 26° 37' 0 E 15° 9' 0)
- Halifax Island (S 26° 39' 0 E 15° 5' 0)
- Possession Island (S 27° 1' 0 E 15° 13' 0)
- Albatross Rock (S 27° 7' 0 E 15° 13' 0)
- Pomona Island (S 27° 12' 0 E 15° 15' 0)
- North Long Island (S 26° 49' 0 E 15° 8' 0)
- South Long Island (S 26° 50' 0 E 15° 8' 0)
- Black Rock (S 24° 56' 0 E 14° 48' 0)
- Black Sophie Rock (S 27° 38' 0 E 15° 31' 0)
- Plumpudding Island (S 27° 38' 0 E 15° 32' 0)
- Sinclair Island (Roast Beef Island) (S 27° 40' 0 E 15° 32' 0)
- Little Roastbeef Islets (S 27° 42' 0 E 15° 32' 0)