Fur Seals, Whales and Tourists

Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands was the site of some of the earliest commercial activity to be carried out in the Antarctic, with the hunting of Antarctic fur seals in the early 19th century.

This book explores the commercial history of the island and its historic links to whaling, including the only successful land-based factory in the history of Antarctica, the Hektor whaling station in Whalers Bay. Operational from the latter part of the 20th Century, Deception Island has become a regular stop for the growing Antarctic tourist cruise industry.

The book expands into the scientific, aviation, geographical and political history of Deception Island, as well as its condition today after volcanic eruptions in the mid twentieth century obliterated many historic buildings. Illustrated with historical and current photos.

• Written by Stephen Dibbern
• Deception Island