Murray Island (Antarctica)


Murray Island, also sometimes known as Bluff Island, is an island 6 mile long lying at the south-west side of Hughes Bay, off the west coast of Graham Land, Antarctica. The feature has been known to sealers operating in the area since the 1820s, although it was shown on charts as part of the mainland. In 1922 the whale catcher Graham passed through the channel separating it from the mainland, proving its insularity. It was named in association with Cape Murray, the seaward extremity of the island.

Important Bird Area

A 98 ha ice-free site on the western side of a small peninsula on the northern coast of the island has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports a breeding colony of about 180 pairs of imperial shags.

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