Besson Rock

Besson Rock (Bulgarian: скала Бесон, romanized: skala Besson, IPA: [skɐˈla bɛˈsɔn]) is the rock off the northwest coast of Nelson Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica extending 45 m in southeast–northwest direction and 32 m in southwest–northeast direction. Its surface area is 0.09 ha. The vicinity was visited by early 19th century sealers.^[1]

Besson Rock

Besson Rock Location in the South Shetland Islands Show map of South Shetland Islands Besson Rock Location in Antarctica Show map of Antarctica
Geography
Location	Antarctica
Coordinates	62°14′56″S 59°11′10.7″W
Archipelago	South Shetland Islands
Area	0.09 ha (0.22 acres)
Length	45 m (148 ft)
Width	32 m (105 ft)
Administration
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty
Demographics
Population	uninhabited

The feature is named after Jacques Besson (ca 1540–1573), a French inventor and mathematician who created the cosmolabe, an instrument to be used for navigation, surveying and cartography; in association with other names in the area deriving from the early development or use of geodetic instruments and methods.

Location

Besson Rock is located at 62°14′56″S 59°11′10.7″W,^[2] which is 1.93 km north of Smilets Point, 2.78 km northeast of Folger Rock, 2.78 km southwest of Withem Island and 2.27 km west by north of Retamales Point. British mapping in 1968.

See also

• List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands

Maps

• Livingston Island to King George Island. Scale 1:200000. Admiralty Nautical Chart 1776. Taunton: UK Hydrographic Office, 1968.
• South Shetland Islands. Scale 1:200000 topographic map No. 3373. DOS 610 - W 62 58. Tolworth, UK, 1968.
• Antarctic Digital Database (ADD). Scale 1:250000 topographic map of Antarctica. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). Since 1993, regularly upgraded and updated.