The Jason Islands are somewhat geologically distinct, described by Ian Strange as "sharply rising peaks give them a grandeur found in few other areas of the archipelago".
An archipelago in the region of the Falkland Islands appeared on maps from the early 16th century prompting speculation they may have been sighted by Portuguese or Spanish sailors of the period, although none of the suggestions in the modern literature stand up to scrutiny.
On 24 January 1600 Sebald De Weert, on his homeward leg back to the Netherlands after having left the Straits of Magellan, noticed some islands that did not exist on his nautical charts.
Between 1864 and 1866, approximately two million rockhopper and gentoo penguins were killed on the Jasons and boiled to extract their oil.
[6]: 214 [7] Some buildings remain on the islands from that era, including cottages and sheep shearing sheds.
The Jason Islands are home to the striated caracara, albatrosses, Antarctic skuas and fur seals.
The Jason Islands group has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA).