The more seaward islands are steeper, with numerous offshore islets and rocks, mostly uncharted.

The nearest permanent research station is the USA's Palmer, 20 km to the east at Arthur Harbour, southern Anvers Island.

[2] The islands were discovered by a German expedition to Antarctic waters in 1873–74, under Eduard Dallmann, and named by him for Albert Rosenthal, Director of the Society for Polar Navigation (Deutsche Polar-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft) who, with the Society, sponsored the expedition.

A 11,081 ha site, including Gerlache Island and extending 8 km south of the main Rosenthal group to include 35 ice-free islands and peninsulas, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International, because it supports some 7,300 breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins.

The IBA lies within Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) No.7 - Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin.