South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Georgia del Sud e Isole Sandwich Australi

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
View of the southern coast of South Georgia
Location
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Location
Coat of arms and flag
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Coat of arms
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Flag
CapitalGrytviken (de iure), King Edward Point (de facto)
GovernmentTerritory British overseas
Currency Falkland Islands Pound
Surface 3,903 km²
Inhabitants30 (2011)
TongueEnglish
Prefix 500 (In common with the Falkland Islands)
TLD .gs
Time zone UTC-2
Websitehttp://www.gov.gs/

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean, in theSouth America, and claimed byArgentina.

To know

It is a collection of remote and inhospitable islands, consisting of the South Georgia and an archipelago of small islands known as South Sandwich Islands.

There are no hotels or any type of tourist infrastructure on the islands, except in the two villages of Grytviken is King Edward Point. In these, there is a Post Office where they are sold:

  • Postage stamps
  • Money withdrawal services
  • Clothing
  • Souvenirs

There is a public bathroom inside the South Georgia Museum in Grytviken, but only when the museum is open.

Geographical notes

All the islands are mainly mountainous, with the exception of some coves on the South Georgia Island, places where the few human settlements are found there. Due to the very strong sea currents it could be particularly difficult to navigate the various fjords, but sometimes still feasible. However, this should not worry those who go through equipped agencies, therefore exempt from the need to navigate and pilot the ship.

When to go

Given the harsh polar climate and frozen ice, it is advisable to go there during the summer or spring, when temperatures are at their highest and the ocean ice portion at a minimum.

Spoken languages

Being a region with very few inhabitants, there are no linguistic variations. Everyone is talking about theEnglish.

Territories and tourist destinations

Map divided by regions
      South Georgia Island - The only inhabited island of the entire dependence, where the capital is present. It is a mountainous and largely barren island, with many mountains reaching above 2,000m. Three rocky archipelagos are also grouped in the South Georgia group:
      South Sandwich Islands - They are a group of 9 uninhabited islands with the presence of some active volcanoes. There are also two automated weather stations on two islands.
      Clerk Rocks - They are a group of 15 small uninhabited rocky islands.

Urban centers

  • King Edward Point - It is a small village on the island of South Georgia, and is the de facto capital of the British overseas territory, in fact it is the seat of the government. The village is also a port of entry for visitors and home to the Fishery Research base run for the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)
  • Grytviken - It is a small village on the island of South Georgia with an old whale fishing station. About 11 people live during the summer, while only 3 during the winter months. It is not far from King Edward Point.


How to get

Entry requirements

No entry visa is required, but each visitor needs to have a visiting permit. In any case, however, it is tour operators or private ship owners who are responsible for sending the necessary forms, without the individual passenger having to do so. Grytviken, each passenger must go through the immigration office and show a valid passport, which may not be accepted if all the necessary information has not been provided by the operator, i.e .:

  • Full name, of each passenger
  • Nationality
  • Passport information
    • Passport number
    • Issuing date
    • Expiration date
    • Passport issuing country
  • Date of birth
  • Confirmation that all persons on board have adequate medical and travel insurance signed by the visitor in possession of the visiting permit

For those passengers wishing to go ashore, a presentation video will be sent, posthumously after filling in the forms for the visit permit, a fee is also required that must be paid by every person aged 16 or over, who is registered in the passenger list to be presented to the Immigration Office.

Information on how to plan, make the most of and finish the trip is available here.

For further information please contact:

By plane

None of the islands has an airport since the local government banned the use of aircraft or balloons. The most convenient airport is in the Falkland Islands.

On boat

Most tourists reach the islands via cruise ships or yachts. In the case of cruises, most of the ship operators are part of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, which involves a large number of possible berths on the whole area of ​​the islands.


How to get around

On boat

It is the best way to move from one area to another of the islands, but if you arrived with a tour operator, it will not be a problem to move by ship.Here is attached the official map of all the mooring points for tourist purposes approved by Local government.

By bus

There is no public transport system on the islands.

What see

Lenticular clouds in the South Georgia sunset sky

South Georgia Island

  • Grytviken
    • The Ancient Whaling Station
    • The South Georgia Museum
    • There church and the cemetery
  • Elsehul: A small port unreachable in December and January, home to many sea lions.
  • Right Whale Bay: Usually the first stop on cruises, there are also sea lions, emperor penguins and seals here.
  • Salisbury Plain
  • St. Andrew's Bay: Area rich in penguin species, especially emperors.
  • Cooper Bay: Great place to see the macaroni penguins.
  • Drygalski fjord: Tourist attraction of great note given the presence of its glaciers and the presence of animal species typical of theAntarctica.

There are other whaling stations on the island but they are closed to the public.

Islands of the South Georgia Group

In addition to the main island, there are hundreds of islets, among which are remembered for scientific or naturalistic interest:

  • Willis Islands: Located in the extreme north of the island, they are accessible by docking on some rocks, but this process is difficult and on average dangerous. They are home to many bird species and macaroni penguins.
  • Bird Island: The island is closed to the public. There is a scientific research base dedicated to the study of volatile species.
  • Prion Island: The island is partially open to the public. The government has in fact set up areas closed to the public in order to safeguard bird species and the environment. A wooden walkway was recently built for visitors.
  • Island of the Albatrosses: Closed to tourism in 2005.

South Sandwich Islands

Due to the lack of human resident on these islands, activities are reduced to simply enjoying the view from the boat and rarely getting off and climbing.

Itineraries

As mentioned in the section How to get, most of the trips made to this British outhouse are combined with visits throughout the Antarctic area.


What to do

Young sea lion on the island of South Georgia

There are several activities to be carried out in this place:

  • First of all photography: these islands have an enviable fauna and flora, combined with a white frozen landscape and a crystalline sea.
  • Practice winter activities such as downhill and cross-country skiing
  • Circumnavigate the islands while enjoying the view
  • Scientific or amateur research activity, even if, being the islands a large scientific research base, it is not really appreciated
  • Spend your time looking for penguins, both on land and from the ship

Fishing activities are also possible (see point At the table), rafting, bird watching and glacier climbing, but great climbing skills are needed as South Georgia's glaciers are not easy to tackle.

Currency and purchases

The national currency is the Falkland Islands Pound (FKP) Here are the links to know the current exchange rate with the main world currencies:

(EN) With Google Finance:AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
With Yahoo! Finance:AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
(EN) With XE.com:AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
(EN) With OANDA.com:AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD


At the table

Killing or damaging the flora and fauna of the islands is illegal. It is also illegal to use penguin and albatross eggs.

  • You can use the recently introduced dandelion to make good salads. They must be washed, cooked in a pan with oil and combined with vinegar, beets and walnuts. Shooting at reindeer is forbidden, unless you have a special permit issued by the local Commission, but it is unlikely that these permits are issued.
  • It is possible to fish, but only the quantities necessary to feed themselves, as the fish are protected species. You can also ask fishing vessels if they are willing to give you fish.

Drinks

You must bring your own drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. However, there is a small bar in King Edward Point, but it is usually reserved for researchers.

Tourist infrastructure


Events and parties


Safety


Health situation

There is no hospital on any of the islands. It is therefore mandatory that the ships are self-sufficient, in fact, in the event that the ships are not, access to the nation is denied.

Drinking water is only available at the Tijuca pier, a Grytviken, or at the pier of King Edward Point, but at the discretion of government officials and subject to particular subjective visitor restrictions.

Respect the customs

It is essential to remember the naturalistic importance of the islands, therefore it is important to follow every rule imposed by the local government to the letter and try to pollute as little as possible. Disturbing the local fauna and flora is considered illegal, just as it is illegal to import species alien within the territory.

How to keep in touch

Post office

There is a post office that has at its disposal:

  • Postage stamps
  • Money withdrawal services
    • Falkland Islands Pounds
    • British Pounds
    • EUR
  • Clothing
  • Souvenirs

It is found at Grytviken

Telephony

There are no public telephone services.

Internet

There are no public internet connection services.


Other projects

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