Gurkovska Cove

Location of Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands

Gurkovska Cove (Bulgarian: залив Гурковска, ‘Zaliv Gurkovska’ \'za-liv 'gur-kov-ska\) is the 3 km wide cove indenting for 2.5 km the east extremity of Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It is entered southwest of Cape Valentine and northeast of Walker Point. The feature was formed as a result of the retreat of The Stadium (a glacier feeding the cove’s head) in the first decade of 21st century.

The cove is named after Yuliya Gurkovska (1945–2001), participant in the Second Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition 1993/94, for her support for the Bulgarian Antarctic programme.

Location

Gurkovska Cove is centred at 61°07′40″S 54°42′00″W / 61.12778°S 54.70000°W / -61.12778; -54.70000Coordinates: 61°07′40″S 54°42′00″W / 61.12778°S 54.70000°W / -61.12778; -54.70000. British mapping of the area in 1822,1972 and 2009.

Maps

Map of Elephant Island

• 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.
• 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.

References

• Bulgarian Antarctic Gazetteer. Antarctic Place-names Commission. (details in Bulgarian, basic data in English)
• Gurkovska Cove. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer

This article includes information from the Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria which is used with permission.