Shaky Claims: Deception Island and the Geopolitics of Extinction

From the early-to-mid-twentieth century, major debates were underway about the very structure and development of the earth. During this period, geopolitical disputes abounded, and in some regions of the earth, geology played a central role in territorial claims. On the Antarctic Deception Island, claimed by the United Kingdom, Chile, and Argentina, records of what would now be considered clear indications of volcanic activity date back to its discovery in 1820. Yet despite regular and widely published observations of earthquakes, hot springs, and fumaroles, Deception was very often identified as an extinct volcano, surprising many with two unpredicted eruptions in 1967 and 1969. This article will use the case of Deception Island to argue how the island’s extinct status was pivotal in a region where occupation had become vital for making territorial claims. As such, our understandings of geology are often deeply intertwined with local geopolitics.