Cape Royds (77°33′S 166°09′E) is a dark rock cape forming the western extremity of Ross Island, facing on McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
It was discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition (BrNAE) (1901–1904) and named for Lieutenant Charles Royds, Royal Navy, who acted as meteorologist on the expedition. Royds subsequently rose to become an Admiral and was later Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, London.
The cape is the site of Shackleton's Hut, the expedition camp of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907–09.
Shackleton's Hut
Shackleton's Hut (77.552929°S 166.168286°E) is a historical site near Cape Royds, Ross Island, Antarctica, where the explorer Ernest Shackleton built a hut that housed his party during the winter of 1908.
When Shackleton went into McMurdo Sound in 1908, having failed to land on King Edward VII Land, he decided to build a hut at Cape Royds, a small promontory twenty-three miles north of Hut Point where Scott had stayed during the Discovery Expedition. The whole shore party lived in this hut through the winter of 1908.
The Antarctic Heritage Trust (New Zealand) has custody over the site. Nominated by AHT, Shackleton's Hut was listed in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund to attract attention and financial support for the site.
Antarctic Specially Protected Area
An area of 6200 ha at the cape is protected as Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 121, incorporating HSM 15) because it supports the southernmost established Adélie penguin colony known, with a long period of population data. The presence of polynyas in McMurdo Sound provides an ice-free area where penguins can feed, and is important for the survival of the penguin colony.
The area plays host to penguin researchers such as Jean Pennycook.
The area is also important for its terrestrial and freshwater ecology; it is the type locality for several species of algae, including the southernmost record of snow algae.
Lakes
There are a number of small lakes near the cape.
Blue Lake
77°32′S 166°10′E.
The largest of several small frozen lakes near Cape Royds, lying 0.5 nautical miles (0.93 km; 0.58 mi) north-northeast of Flagstaff Point.
Named by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907–09 on account of the intensely vivid blue color of its ice.
Clear Lake
77°32′S 166°09′E.
A small lake just west-northwest of Blue Lake at Cape Royds.
A descriptive name given by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-09).
It is the deepest lake in this vicinity.
Green Lake
77°33′S 166°09′E.
A small lake near the coast, about midway between Pony Lake and Coast Lake at Cape Royds.
Named by British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-09, because of its coloring.
Coast Lake
77°32′S 166°08′E.
A small lake at Cape Royds, lying close to the coast, about 0.75 nautical miles (1.39 km; 0.86 mi) north of Flagstaff Point.
Named by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-09, because of its position.
Pony Lake
77°33′S 166°09′E.
A small lake immediately north of Flagstaff Point at Cape Royds.
Named by British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-09, who built their winter hut adjacent to this lake, because they had their ponies tethered nearby.
Deep Lake
77°34′S 166°13′E.
A small elongate lake 0.5 nautical miles (0.93 km; 0.58 mi) north of Cape Barne.
The descriptive name was applied by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-09.
Sunk Lake
77°34′S 166°13′E.
A small lake lying between Deep Lake and the coast at Cape Royds.
The descriptive name appears on the maps by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910–13, but it may have been given earlier by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-09).
The surface of the ice comprising the lake is 18 ft below sea level.
Terrace Lake
77.577515°S 166.281582°E / -77.577515; 166.281582.
A descriptive name for a small, elongate lake which lies in a valley with moraine from the Barne Glacier, about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of Cape Barne.
The name appears on the maps of the British Antarctic Expedition (BrAE) (1910-13), but may have been applied earlier by the British Antarctic Expedition (BrAE) (1907-09).
Northern features
Features around Cape Royds include Horseshoe Bay, Shackleton's Hut, Blacksand Beach, Flagstaff Point, Backdoor Bay, Mickle Island and Cape Barne.
Features to the north of Cape Royds include, from north to south,
Varcoe Headland
77.52°S 166.2116667°E / -77.52; 166.2116667.
A low headland, 34 metres (112 ft) high, that marks the north entrance point to Horseshoe Bay in west Ross Island. Named by New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) after Technical Services Officer Garth Edwin Varcoe, who worked in the NZ Antarctic Program over a period of 15 years until his accidental death in a helicopter crash near this headland in October 1992. His expertise was in the mechanical and electrical areas and he played a leading role in the reconstruction of Scott Base.
Newport Point
77.5261111°S 166.1880556°E / -77.5261111; 166.1880556.
The south entrance point to Horseshoe Bay in west Ross Island. Named by New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) after Terry Newport, a carpenter in the NZ Antarctic Program, who perished in a helicopter crash near this point in October 1992.
Horseshoe Bay
77°32′S 166°12′E.
A cove just north of Cape Royds.
Discovered and named by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901-04) under Robert Falcon Scott.