It lies is at the east end of Berkeley Sound near Kidney Cove, and is separated from Port William by Menguera Point.
It is a nature reserve and, unlike most of the main islands, is still covered in tussac grass.
It is one of only three places in the archipelago where king penguins breed; the others are Saunders Island and Volunteer Point on East Falkland.
During the Falklands War, on 1 May 1982, Islas Malvinas GC82, an Argentine Z-28 type naval patrol boat was damaged near the island by a Westland Lynx HAS.Mk.2/3 helicopter from HMS Alacrity.
The helicopter was also badly hit by return fire from the Argentine armed coaster ARA Forrest.