Geography
As a group of islands, the South Shetland Islands are located at 62°0′S 58°0′W / 62°S 58°W / -62; -58Coordinates: 62°0′S 58°0′W / 62°S 58°W / -62; -58. They are within the region 61° 00'–63° 37' South, 53° 83'–62° 83' West. The islands lie 940 km (580 mi) south of the Falkland Islands, and between 93 km (58 mi) (Deception Island) and 269 km (167 mi) (Clarence Island) northwest and north from the nearest point of the Antarctic continent, Graham Land.
The South Shetlands consist of 11 major islands and several minor ones, totalling 3,687 square kilometres (1,424 sq mi) of land area. Between 80 and 90 percent of the land area is permanently glaciated. The highest point on the island chain is Mount Irving on Clarence Island at 2,300 metres (7,546 ft) above sea level.
The South Shetland Islands extend about 450 km (280 mi) from Smith Island and Snow Island in the west-southwest to Elephant Island and Clarence Island in the east-northeast.
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