{{Short description|Island group in Antarctica}} {{Distinguish|Windmill Island}} {{Infobox islands | name = Windmill Islands | image_name = 0rthographic projection over Austral Island.png | image_caption = Orthographic projection over the Windmill Islands | map = Antarctica | map_caption = Location in Antarctica | nickname = | location = Vincennes Bay | coordinates = {{Coord|66|20|S|110|28|E|display=inline,title|type:landmark}} | archipelago = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_km2 = | length_km = | width_km = | highest_mount = | elevation_m = | population = Uninhabited | population_as_of = | density_km2 = | ethnic_groups = | country = None | treaty_system = Antarctic Treaty System }}
The '''Windmill Islands''' are an Antarctic group of rocky islands and rocks about {{convert|6|nmi|km|1|disp=flip}} wide, paralleling the coast of Wilkes Land for {{convert|17|nmi|km|1|disp=flip}} immediately north of Vanderford Glacier along the east side of Vincennes Bay. Kirkby Shoal is a small shoal area with depths of less than {{convert|18|m|ft|0}} extending about {{convert|140|m|ft|0}} westwards and SSW, about {{convert|3.4|km|mi}} from the summit of Shirley Island, Windmill Islands, and {{convert|0.15|mi|km|disp=flip}} <!-- which mile? --> NW of Stonehocker Point, Clark Peninsula.
The Windmill Islands were mapped from aerial photographs taken by USN Operation Highjump, 1946–47. So named by the US-ACAN because personnel of Operation Windmill, 1947–48, landed on Holl Island at the southwest end of the group to establish ground control for USN Operation Highjump photographs. The term "Operation Windmill" is a popular expression which developed after the expedition disbanded and refers to the extensive use of helicopters made by this group. The official title of this expedition was the 'Second Antarctic Development Project', U.S. Navy Task Force 39, 1947–48.
==Features== Some of the main geographic features of the archipelago are: * Austral Island<ref name = "gn6635252">[http://www.geonames.org/6635252/austral%20island.html Austral Island - Geonames]</ref> * Kilby Island<ref name = "gn6636054">[http://www.geonames.org/6636054/kilby%20island.html Kilby Island - Geonames]</ref> * Kirkby Shoal<ref name=gnisKirkby>{{cite gnis | type = antarid | id = 7991| name = Kirkby Shoal | access-date = 2013-05-03}}</ref> * Larsen Bank<ref name=gnisLarsen>{{cite gnis | type = antarid | id = 8526| name = Larsen Bank | access-date = 2013-05-31}}</ref> * McMullin Island<ref name=gnisMcMullin>{{cite gnis | type = antarid | id = 9748| name = McMullin Island | access-date = 2013-09-10}}</ref> * Molholm Island<ref name=gnisMolholm>{{cite gnis | type = antarid | id = 10128| name = Molholm Island | access-date = 2013-10-29}}</ref> * Shirley Island<ref name = "gn6625217">[http://www.geonames.org/6625217/shirley%20island.html Shirley Island - Geonames]</ref>
==See also== * Composite Antarctic Gazetteer * Harrigan Hill * Holt Point * List of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands * List of Antarctic islands south of 60° S * Newcomb Bay * Nye Islands * SCAR * Territorial claims in Antarctica
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{usgs-gazetteer|id=16701}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Windmill Islands Category:Islands of Wilkes Land
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