Nelson Island (South Shetland Islands)

Nelson Island is an island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Situated to the southwest of King George Island, it is separated from it by Fildes Strait. To the southwest, it is separated from Robert Island by Nelson Strait.

The island is roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) long and 11 kilometers (7 miles) wide, and is largely ice-covered. Its coastline is heavily indented with numerous bays and headlands. The island is of volcanic origin, featuring various geological formations and landscapes.

Nelson Island is an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 128) due to its valuable geomorphological features, in particular the presence of fossiliferous sediments and pyroclastic deposits. These features provide insights into the geological history and past environment of the South Shetland Islands.

Scientific research is conducted on the island, primarily focusing on geology, glaciology, and biology. There are no permanent research stations on Nelson Island, though researchers may visit it from stations on nearby King George Island.

The island was known to sealers as early as 1821 and was charted under the name "Nelson's Isle" by George Powell in 1822, presumably named after Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson.