[1] The highest points of the island are Stanley Hill and Mount Byng at 220 m (720 ft).

The north-eastern coast has cliffs and slopes while there are large sand bays and a tidal rocky point to the north-west.

The main objections to this plan were threefold: 1) Carcass Island, being in the west of the archipelago, was nearest to continental Argentine bases; 2) its proximity to the airbase on Pebble Island; and 3) its remoteness from Stanley, as it was furthest from the main objectives, and West Falkland was ultimately bypassed in the war.

Though the island has been a sheep farm for more than a century, careful management has preserved its varied habitat and mature tussac grows in replanted coastal paddocks.

None of the species are endemic, but they include such exoticisms as Monterey cypress trees and New Zealand cabbage palms.