Antarchon
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| Info: NSEconomy RC XML |
Overview
Steep-sided mountains meet the sea in a series of high cliffs broken by many large bays and inlets. These provide a natural habitat for wildlife and excellent deep-water anchorages for shipping and whaling stations. All these bays are the product of glacial activity , and some are still being deepened by the island's few remaining glaciers.
The island chain is spotted with many tall Iconic snow-covered mountains. The islands are invariably windy, and the frequent depressions arriving from the west bring cold, wet and cloudy weather. The temperature rarely exceeds 25° C in summer, though it rarely falls below 5° C in winter making for comfortable if somewhat commonly dreary summers. Relative humidity is generally high and range from 80% in March to 82.9% in November. This is due to the frequency of low cloud ceilings.
Fog is relatively common, with a high amount of rainfall is high with an annual average of 1,114 mm distributed over 239 days and mostly falling as rain. Falls of hail or snow are sometimes observed in winter but seldom at low altitude. December to March is drier (78 mm per month against 100 mm per month from April to November). As Antarchon lies on the Antarctic Convergence where upwelling cold water from the Antarctic mixes with the warmer waters of the south Pacific Ocean, bird life and marine mammals are abundant. The state of the sea reflects the high wind speeds, with wave heights of 12 - 15 m being common. The sea around Antarchon is, however, for the majority ice free.
