Tryne Islands


The Tryne Islands are a group of numerous small Antarctic islands and rocks, about in extent, forming the western limit of Tryne Bay and Tryne Sound at the north-eastern end of the Vestfold Hills. The islands were mapped by Norwegian cartographers from aerial photographs taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition and named Trynøyane.

Historic site

Mikkelsen Cairn: A rock cairn and a wooden mast were erected on 20 February 1935 by a landing party led by Captain Klarius Mikkelsen of the Norwegian whaling ship Thorshavn. A member of the party was Mikkelsen's wife Caroline, the first woman to set foot on East Antarctica. The cairn was discovered by Australian National [Antarctic Research Expedition] field parties in 1957, 1977 and again in 1995. The site has been designated a Historic Site or Monument, following a proposal by Australia and Norway to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

Important Bird Area

A 40 ha site, comprising a small unnamed ice-free island in the north of the group, has been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports a breeding colony of about 13,000 pairs of Adélie penguins, estimated from 2011 satellite imagery.