South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic southeast of the Falkland Islands. It was one of these until 1985, but has been a separate territory since then. The area is from Argentina claimed that it was in 1982 in Falklands War occupied, but quickly lost again.
The rough sub-Antarctic islands are practically uninhabited and a paradise for nature lovers. Since the 1990s, it has become much easier to visit the islands than it used to be, with numerous cruises in the area, for example.
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | Grytviken |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Overseas territory |
| currency | English pound |
| surface | 4,066 km² |
| population | 2 (permanent population) (2007) |
| languages | English |
| Religions | Anglican |
| power grid | 240 V / 50 Hz |
| Phone code | 500 |
| Internet TLD | .gs |
| Time zone | CET-3h |
Regions
- South Georgia, the main island and the only one that has a low permanent population.
- South Sandwich Islands, hard-to-reach remote archipelago.
places
Next Grytviken, the main town and the only inhabited place in the area with its research base King Edward Point there are some ghost towns that were run by whalers in the first half of the 20th century. All are on the north coast of the island of South Georgia.
The following are to be mentioned:
- Prince Olav Harbor (1911-1931)
- Leith Harbor (1909-1965), the largest settlement
- Stromness (1907-1961)
- Husvik (1907-1960)
- Ocean Harbor (1909-1920)
The Argentine base existed on the South Sandwich Islands Corbeta Uruguay, which was evacuated by the British in 1982, today there is only one weather station unmanned in winter.
Other goals
background
From a climatological point of view, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands lie on the border with Antarctica. This results in a unique vegetation. Bushes and tundra vegetation thrive in the lower elevations, while the higher mountains are almost completely glaciated.
Until the 1980s, the islands were reserved for adventurers and researchers, but tourism has set in since then. A museum was set up, cruises increasingly stopped at the islands, and numerous private excursions took place. The most famous tourist to visit the islands was probably the rock singer Elvis Costello, who sought inspiration for his music there.
So today visiting South Georgia is still special and not cheap, but not an expedition anymore. Nature lovers, however, see the upsurge in tourism with mixed feelings, and cruise tourists in particular sometimes lack consideration for the special conditions. Anyone visiting the islands should therefore be aware that this is a particularly sensitive area and should therefore do everything possible to protect the environment.
The completely uninhabited South Sandwich Islands, on the other hand, are still an area for the extreme adventurer. Here you are largely on your own and therefore inevitably have to have experience in traveling to remote areas.
language
The official language is English.
getting there
The easiest way to get here, but it is also expensive, is to take a cruise to Antarctica that stops at the islands. Occasionally there are also travel options from the Falkland Islands. It is also possible to visit the islands on a private boat, provided the necessary permits from the British Navy.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
In Grytviken there are numerous historical buildings from the time when the island was still an inhabited whaling territory. Another popular sightseeing destination is the grave of the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.
activities
You can hike and mountaineering in South Georgia, but the activities depend on the organizers who offer the expedition to the islands.
kitchen
There is no supply possibility on the islands. Everything has to be brought by yourself.
nightlife
The only bar is in the King Edward Point Research Station. However, it is reserved for scientists.
security
In South Georgia, as in all remote areas, the danger comes primarily from nature. Wild animals such as sea lions should never be disruptive or even aggressive towards them, as they can defend themselves.
health
In South Georgia there is a first aid station at the King Edward Point military base near Grytviken, otherwise you are on your own. It is therefore a duty to take care of yourself, and be in good physical shape when visiting if you intend to do something longer than the typical short cruise to the islands. In principle, you should only travel in a larger group. There is no ambulance service on the islands.
climate
The climate is cold and windy. In summer the temperatures rarely rise above 15 degrees, it is usually much fresher, and in winter there is about 6 months of snow. Nevertheless, the temperature extremes are lower than, for example, in Siberia, so -20 degrees is rarely reached.
