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Carcass Island (Spanish: Isla del Rosario) is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north west of West Falkland and south east of the Jason Islands.
History
The island's grim sounding name comes from the ship HMS Carcass, which surveyed the island in 1766 - its accompanying vessel HMS Jason, gave its name to the nearby Jason Islands, and its captain, John McBride, gave his name to MacBride head.
It is currently run as a sheep farm by Rob McGill. Its small settlement, lying on Port Patterson on the south west coast, is also known for its gardens, and has a small shop/grocery. It has been settled continuously for over a hundred years. The main house, occupied by the McGills, dates to 1938, and is a single storey building, which has been extended over the years. There is also a wool shed, cow shed and several red-roofed houses made from weatherboard. Two of these are rented out to holiday makers, who often come from West and East Falkland within the islands themselves.
Geography
The highest points of the island are Stanley Hill, and Mount Bing (304 metres). There are also stretches of duneland. Leopard Beach is often used as a landing point.
Wildlife and gardens
The island has no rats or cats, and as a result has a wide variety of birdlife including Black-crowned Night Herons, known in the Falkland Islands as "quarks", as well as seals and penguins. Tussock grass also grows here.
The island contains one of the few substantial stands of trees in the Falklands. There is however, a true wood at Hill Cove. None of the species are endemic, but they include such exoticisms as Monterey cypress trees, and New Zealand cabbage palms. The night herons nest within these trees. The gardens also include other introduced plants such as fuchsias, lupins, and dog roses.
References
External links
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