Biruni Island (Bulgarian: остров Бируни, romanized: ostrov Biruni, IPA: [ˈɔstrov biˈruni]) is the rocky island off the north coast of Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica 450 m long in southwest–northeast direction and 150 m wide, with a surface area of 3.59 ha. It is separated from Elephant Island by a passage narrowing to 70 m at points. The island was formed as a result of the retreat of Elephant Island's ice cap at the turn of the 21st century.

The feature is named after Abu Rayhan Biruni (973-1048), an Iranian scholar who proposed the use of triangulation to measure distances and position places; in association with other names in the area deriving from the early development or use of geodetic instruments and methods.

Location

Biruni Island is centred at 61°06′32.5″S 54°59′04″W / 61.109028°S 54.98444°W / -61.109028; -54.98444, which is 21.3 km east-southeast of Cape Yelcho, 880 m southwest of Saffar Island, 6.56 km west-southwest of Point Wild and 820 m west-northwest of Ronalds Point. British mapping of the area in 1822,1972 and 2009.

See also

• List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands

Maps

• Chart of South Shetland including Coronation Island, &c. from the exploration of the sloop Dove in the years 1821 and 1822 by George Powell Commander of the same. Scale ca. 1:200000. London: Laurie, 1822.
• Elephant Island: From a survey by the Joint Services Expedition, December 1970. Scale 1:132000 topographic map. Royal Geographical Society (UK), 1972.
• British Antarctic Territory. Scale 1:200000 topographic map. DOS 610 Series, Sheet W 61 54. Directorate of Overseas Surveys, Tolworth, UK, 1972.
• South Shetland Islands: Elephant, Clarence and Gibbs Islands. Scale 1:220000 topographic map. UK Antarctic Place-names Committee, 2009.
• Antarctic Digital Database (ADD). Scale 1:250000 topographic map of Antarctica. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). Since 1993, regularly upgraded and updated.