Name StatusOfficial ValidatedFeatureIslandsNZ Gazette Reference2012 (53) p.1477DatumRSRGD2000GeoTag[1] PositionDescriptionA group of nine islands and islets lying in the western part of the Ross Sea, about 4 miles off the north-eastern coast of Victoria Land and southward of Cape McCormick. The group extends north and south a distance of about 10 miles and they vary in size from 3 miles in length to mere pillars of rock. The north-western island, named Svend Foyn Island, is the largest and is about 3 miles long, and is low and bare. James Ross Island, the middle large island is high with vertical sides, and the southernmost island, is named Heftye's Island. The group was named by Ross in commemmoration of the planting of the British flag and taking possession in the name of the British Sovereign on 12 January 1841. He landed on a small rocky beach on Svend Foyn Island. Other landings have been made by Borchgrevink in 1895 and 1899, and by Colbeck in 1903. Bull named the individual islands in 1895.
