Keppel Island

 island, nature preserve

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Named in honor of Admiral Augustus Keppel, First Lord of the Admiralty in the 19th century, Keppel Island was initially developed as a sheep farm in the 19th century, and also became the site of an Anglican missionary settlement which served a population of Yaghan people from Tierra del Fuego.

Remaining primarily a sheep farming ranch into the 20th century, the island was designated as a nature preserve when the farm operation folded and is now listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. Some of the ruins of the Anglican mission are listed buildings and are considered to be some of the oldest buildings on the Falkland Islands.


In the late 20th century, the island was designated as a nature reserve. It has a small settlement on the east coast, but no permanent population.