<P> The grounding of the Argentine ship Bahía Paraíso and subsequent 170,000 US gal (640,000 l; 140,000 imp gal) oil spill occurred near the Antarctic Peninsula in 1989 . In 2005, Lewis Gordon Pugh broke the farthest - south long distance swim record by undertaking a 1 km (0.62 mi) swim at Petermann Island off the Antarctic Peninsula . In November 2007, the MV Explorer rammed submerged sea ice and then sank after water from a fist sized hole could not be pumped out quickly enough . All passengers and crew were safely evacuated and rescued . </P> <P> The peninsula is highly mountainous, its highest peaks rising to about 2,800 m (9,200 ft). Notable peaks on the peninsula include Mount Castro, Mount Coman, Mount Gilbert, Mount Jackson, Mount Hope, which is the highest point at 3,239 m (10,627 ft), Mount William, Mount Owen and Mount Scott . These mountains are considered to be a continuation of the Andes of South America, with a submarine spine or ridge connecting the two . This is the basis for the position advanced by Chile and Argentina for their territorial claims . The Scotia Arc is the island arc system that links the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula to those of Tierra del Fuego . </P> <P> The landscape of the peninsula is typical Antarctic tundra . The peninsula has a sharp elevation gradient, with glaciers flowing into the Larsen Ice Shelf, which experienced significant breakup in 2002 . Other ice shelves on the peninsula include George VI Ice Shelf, Wilkins Ice Shelf, Wordie Ice Shelf and the Bach Ice Shelf . The Filchner - Ronne Ice Shelf lies to the east of the peninsula . </P> <P> Islands along the peninsula are mostly ice - covered and connected to the land by pack ice . Separating the peninsula from nearby islands are the Antarctic Sound, Erebus and Terror Gulf, George VI Sound, Gerlache Strait and the Lemaire Channel . The Lemaire Channel is a popular destination for tourist cruise ships that visit Antarctica . Further to the west lies the Bellingshausen Sea and in the north is the Scotia Sea . The Antarctic Peninsula and Cape Horn create a funneling effect, which channels the winds into the relatively narrow Drake Passage . </P>

What kind of habitat is the antarctic peninsula