Débarquement Rock is an ice-free rock long and 18.7 m high, marking the northern end of the
Dumoulin Islands and the north-eastern end of the
Geologie Archipelago.
History
The
French Antarctic Expedition, 1837–40
The French Antarctic Expedition is any of several French expeditions in Antarctica.
First expedition
In 1772, Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec and the naturalist Jean Guillaume Bruguière sailed to the Antarctic region in search of the fabled ...
, under Captain
Jules Dumont d'Urville landed on the western side of the highest of the westernmost rocky islets, to which he gave the name "''Rocher du Débarquement''". The landing was described by him as taking place on 21 January 1840 at 9 in the evening, though the actual date was 22 January 1840, since d'Urville had forgotten to add a day on his diary when he passed the 180° meridian from the east.
Identification of the islet with d'Urville's "''Rocher du Débarquement''" has been made on the basis of aerial photographs taken in the course of the
US Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
's
Operation Highjump (1946–1947), and of surveys and geological studies made by the
French Antarctic Expedition
The French Antarctic Expedition is any of several French expeditions in Antarctica.
First expedition
In 1772, Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec and the naturalist Jean Guillaume Bruguière sailed to the Antarctic region in search of the fabl ...
in 1950–1952, with the seaward position of Débarquement Rock correlating with the feature named by d'Urville. Analysis of the geological samples brought back by the expedition indicates that the landing took place on one of the Dumoulin Islands (named by d'Urville in honour of the expedition hydrographer
Clément Adrien Vincendon-Dumoulin), and the islet is, as described by d'Urville, the north-westernmost and highest of the group, similar in appearance from the west to that portrayed in illustrations contemporary with the original landing.
The islet was designated a
historic site
A historic site or heritage site is an official location where pieces of political, military, cultural, or social history have been preserved due to their cultural heritage value. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have been rec ...
(HSM 81) following a proposal by France to the
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
References
*
''Voyage au Pôle sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes "l'Astrolabe" et "la Zélée", exécuté par ordre du Roi pendant les années 1837-1838-1839-1840 sous le commandement de M. J. Dumont-d'Urville, capitaine de vaisseau'', Paris, Gide éditeur, 1842-1846, tome 8, p. 148-152, site of Gallica: "''Le canot de l'Astrolabe avait déjà pris beaucoup d'avance (...) et au bout de deux heures et demi, nous atteignîmes le plus rapproché des îlots aperçus. (...) en si peu de temps, une distance de plus de sept milles. (...) Il était près de neuf heures lorsque, à notre grande joie, nous prîmes terre sur la partie ouest de l’îlot le plus occidental et le plus élevé.''"
Plates 168 to 171 of ''Voyage au Pôle sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes "l'Astrolabe" et "la Zélée"'', site LINK Tasmania, Adelie Coast (Antarctica) - Pictorial worksDocuments of the Proposed registration of the Landing Rock on the list of historical sites and monuments, Site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Antarctic Treaty, DocumentsCategory : Historic Sites and Monuments, p. 3, ATCM XXIX
*
''Carte des explorations effectuées par les corvettes "l'Astrolabe" et "la Zélée" dans les régions circum-polaires'', 1841 (plate of ''Voyage au Pôle sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes "l'Astrolabe" et "la Zélée"''), site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Documents, Historic Sites and Monuments enlarge to find the number 38 position of the ships before landing on Débarquement Rock more than 7 nautical miles southward (about 14 km), near the tongue of the
Astrolabe Glacier called ''Pointe Géologie'' on the map.
*
Map of Pointe Géologie archipelago click on (+), site of Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine
*
IGN Map of Pointe Géologie archipelago, site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Documents, Historic Sites and Monuments*
The Dumoulin islands and Débarquement Rock in the ''Pilote de Terre Adélie'', site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Documents, Historic Sites and Monuments*
The Dumoulin islands by Dubouzet in 1840, site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Documents, Historic Sites and Monuments*
Views of Débarquement Rock from north and south west, site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Documents, Historic Sites and Monuments length 244 m, height 18.7 m
*
''Prise de possession de la Terre Adélie'' (plate 171 of ''Voyage au Pôle sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes "l'Astrolabe" et "la Zélée"'', view from the west), site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Documents, Historic Sites and Monuments*
Photography of Débarquement Rock, site of Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Documents, Historic Sites and MonumentsProposed registration of the Landing Rock on the list of historical sites and monuments, Antarctic Treaty Consultative meeting 2006, note 4* PERROUD, Paul, ''Terre Adélie 1951-1952 – Astronomie, Géodésie, Cartographie, Expéditions Polaires Françaises, Résultats scientifiques'', S. III.1, Paris 1955.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Debarquement Rock
Rock formations of Adélie Land
Historic Sites and Monuments of Antarctica