Institut, Montesquieu & Kingsmill Islands
- ISS006-E-23519
- 01 February 2003
- 04:47 UTC
Located at the northwest entrance of the Admiralty Gulf between the tip of the Cape Voltaire peninsula and Long Reef are a cluster of around 40 small islands, islets and rocks. They are divided into three groupings: the Institut Islands on the west, the Montesquieu Islands on the northeast and the Kingsmill Islands in the southeast. The main islands are Corneille (2.6 km²), Descartes (1.5 km²) and Fenelon (2.5 km²). The outlying Cassini at 3.4 km² is the largest member of the group (see separate entry). Largest of the Kingsmill Islands is Lafontaine (1.4 km²), with Oliver Island (20 ha) being the largest of the Montesquieu Islands.
The islands are composed mainly of dark-colored dolerite rocks with smaller areas of laterite and sandstone found commonly in the interiors. They are generally flat or have low peaks reaching heights of around 20 to 30 m. The highest point is found on Corneille Island, which rises to 130 m on its eastern side.
image: earth sciences and image analysis laboratory, nasa johnson space center
