Located in the Southern Ocean, northeast of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island is a rugged outpost in the South Shetland Islands. Early explorers named it after the elephant seals seen along its shores, and some observers note that the island’s outline resembles an elephant’s head. The island is closely linked to the 1916 ordeal of Ernest Shackleton and his crew, who took refuge here after the loss of the Endurance during the Imperial Trans‑Antarctic Expedition. The landscape is stark and mountainous, with steep cliffs, glaciers, and wide ice-covered slopes. Gentoo and chinstrap penguins breed along parts of the coast, while seals and numerous seabirds gather seasonally. Because of heavy seas and limited landing sites, most Antarctic cruise visitors view the island from offshore rather than setting foot on land.