| King Edward Point | ||
 | ||
| State | UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 106 m a.s.l. | |
| Inhabitants | 12 (in winter); 22 (in summer) (2018) | |
| Prefix tel | 500 | |
| Time zone | UTC-2 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
King Edward Point is a city of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, overseas department British. The city represents de facto the nation's capital.
To know
Background
The village was founded by Swedish explorers in 1909.
In 1925 the UK government built a marine laboratory, which came under the control of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey 25 years after its creation.
The island was occupied by the Argentines during the Falklands War, closing the station. The same went back into operation on 22 March 2001 thanks to the work of the British Antarctic Survey. Most of the buildings were destroyed during the war, but the Discovery House and prison managed to remain intact.
How to orient yourself
King Edward Point: full screen map.How to get
By plane
There is no civil airport
This is the only way to get to the village. If you want to visit the island ashore, you need to go through the village of Grytviken, not far away.In the village of Grytviken there is the seat of the local government, which established here the point of entry into the soil of theSouth Georgia Island. It is therefore essential to first pass through Grytviken to obtain permission to enter the other land locations of the entire island. Usually, however, this step is automatically done by Tour Operator ships that have a stop at Grytviken on their itineraries, followed by one at King Edward Point. The ways to enter Grytviken are explained in the section How to get of the page South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- 1 King Edward Point Harbor.
How to get around
By public transport
There is no public transport system. The village is very small in size and can be easily visited on foot. It is important to remember that since the inhabitants of the island are workers, researchers and government bodies, it is best not to disturb them while they carry out their functions, although they are hospitable to visitors and allow them to visit the village independently.
What see
- 1 Discovery House. It is one of the two buildings that survived the Falklands War. It was built in 1925 and is now empty. It could become a tourist attraction in the near future.
- See the wreck of the Argentine ship at the dock
- The birth and feeding of the elephant seals in front of the village - about 100 or 200 cubs are born between October and November
- The stony memorial and cross erected by Sir Ernest Shackleton's crewmen in 1922
- The seismic defense bunker at Hope Point, built by the UCSD Antarctic Survey
- British Antarctic Survey accommodation and laboratories (by reservation)
Events and parties
What to do
- Walk around the base and enjoy the nature of the island
- Relate as much as possible with the locals and ask what it is like to live in a remote and inhospitable place like King Edward Point
Shopping
How to have fun
Night clubs
Shortly after the reopening of the station, the residents requested the construction of a bar, which request was granted. The bar in question is now the center of the nightlife of the residents, but is reserved only for the scientific and government staff of the base, visitors are almost never allowed access to the bar.
Where to eat
There are no restaurants, each visitor must have their own food.
Where stay
The places to stay overnight are only available to researchers and government officials. All visitors must sleep aboard the boats they went to the village with.
Safety
There is no hospital nearby. It is 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 rarely available at the King Edward Point pier, but it will hardly be provided to tourists.
How to keep in touch
Post office
About one kilometer from the pier you can find the Grytviken Post Office:
- 2 South Georgia Post Office. the office has at its disposal:
- Postage stamps
- Money withdrawal services
- Falkland Islands Pounds
- British Pounds
- EUR
- Clothing
- Souvenirs
Telephony
There is no public telephone service.
Around
Itineraries
Following the road along the port you can reach Grytviken on foot in about 20 minutes.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning King Edward Point
Commons contains images or other files on King Edward Point
