South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Leo Terram Propriam Protegat"  (Latin) "Let the Lion protect his own land" or "May the Lion protect his own land"
Anthem: "God Save the Queen"
Capital		King Edward Point (Grytviken)
Official languages		English
Government		British Overseas Territory
-	Head of State	Queen Elizabeth II
-	Commissioner	Alan Huckle
Area
-	Total	3,903 km²  1,507 sq mi
Population
-	2006 estimate	~20 (n/a)
-	Density	0.005/km² (n/a) 0.013/sq mi
Currency		Pound sterling (GBP)
Time zone		(UTC-2)
Internet TLD		.gs

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia – which measures approximately 106 miles (170 km) by 18 miles (29 km) and is by far the largest island in the territory – and a chain of smaller islands known as the South Sandwich Islands lying about 400 miles to the south-east. Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Georgia_and_the_South_Sandwich_Islands. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Flag of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Flag of the Civil Commissioner of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands The Flag of the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands was granted in 1985, when the Territory was created. ... Coat of Arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands The Coat of Arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands was granted in 1985, upon the creation of the territory. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... For other uses, see God Save the Queen (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links LocationSouthGeorgiaAndSouthSandwichIslands. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... King Edward Point (54º17´S 036º30´W) is a low point projecting from the northern side of King Edward Cove toward the central part of the cove, on the western side of Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia. ... Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Flag of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands The Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. ... Alan Huckle Alan Edden Huckle (born June 15, 1948) is a British colonial administrator. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... GBP redirects here. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... . ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ...

There is no native population on any of the islands, and the only present inhabitants are the British Government Officer, Deputy Postmaster, scientists, and support staff from the British Antarctic Survey who maintain scientific bases at Bird Island and at the capital, King Edward Point, as well as museum staff at nearby Grytviken. BAS headquarters The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), formerly the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), is an institute of the Natural Environment Research Council, and has, for the last fifty years, undertaken the majority of Britains scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. ... Bird Island off South Georgia Bird Island (54°00′ S 038°03′ W) is 4. ... King Edward Point (54º17´S 036º30´W) is a low point projecting from the northern side of King Edward Cove toward the central part of the cove, on the western side of Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia. ... Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ...

The British claim to sovereignty of South Georgia dates from 1775, and that of the South Sandwich Islands from 1908. The territory of "South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands" was formed in 1985; previously it had been governed as part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Argentina claimed South Georgia in 1927, and the South Sandwich Islands in 1938. Argentina maintained a naval station, Corbeta Uruguay, at Port Faraday on Thule Island in the South Sandwich Islands from 1976 until 1982 when it was closed by the Royal Navy. The Argentine claim over South Georgia contributed to the 1982 Falklands War, during which Argentine forces briefly occupied the Island, and remains unresolved to this day (see also Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands). Sovereignty is the exclusive right to have control over an area of governance, people, or oneself. ... Year 1775 (MDCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... ca. ... Thule Island is one of the southermost of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Belligerents Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties and losses 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner... The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas in Spanish) [1] has been the subject of dispute between the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Argentina (all controlling the Falkland Islands at some point), lasting more than two centuries. ...

History

Main article: History of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

XVII-XIX Century The South Atlantic island of South Georgia, situated south of the Antarctic Convergence, was the first Antarctic territory ever discovered. ...

South Georgia

Map by James Cook (1777, South-Up)

Central South Georgia: Cumberland Bay; Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken); Allardyce Range with the summit Mt. Paget (NASA imagery).

The Island of South Georgia is said to have been first sighted in 1675 by Anthony de la Roché, a London merchant, and was named Roche Island on some early maps, Pepys Island on others. It was sighted by a commercial Spanish ship named León operating out of Saint-Malo on 28 June or 29 June 1756,^[1] and in 1775 by Captain James Cook, who, after dismissing his find as "not worth the discovery", went on to survey and map the island, make the first landing, claim the territory for the Kingdom of Great Britain, and name it "the Isle of Georgia" in honour of King George III. British arrangements for the government of South Georgia were first established under the 1843 British Letters Patent. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1269x888, 539 KB) Summary James Cook, Chart of the Discoveries made in the South Atlantic Ocean, in His Majestys Ship Resolution, under the Command of Captain Cook, in January 1775, W. Strahan and T. Cadel, London, 1777 (fragment) Licensing File links... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1269x888, 539 KB) Summary James Cook, Chart of the Discoveries made in the South Atlantic Ocean, in His Majestys Ship Resolution, under the Command of Captain Cook, in January 1775, W. Strahan and T. Cadel, London, 1777 (fragment) Licensing File links... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x750, 508 KB) Satellite image of central South Georgia Island: Cumberland Bay; Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken); Allardyce Range with the summit Mt. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x750, 508 KB) Satellite image of central South Georgia Island: Cumberland Bay; Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken); Allardyce Range with the summit Mt. ... Cumberland Bay, 6 km (4 mi) wide at its entrance between Larsen and Barff Points, which separates into two extensive arms that recede inland 14 km (9 mi) along the northern coast of South Georgia. ... Central South Georgia: Cumberland Bay; Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken); Allardyce Range with the summit Mt. ... Central South Georgia: Cumberland Bay; Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken); Allardyce Range with the summit Mt. ... Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ... The Allardyce Range is a mountain range rising south of Cumberland Bay and dominating the central part of South Georgia, a UK overseas territory. ... Mount Paget is a saddle-shaped mountain, marking the highest point of the Allardyce Range in the central part of South Georgia. ... Voyage of the English merchant Anthony de la Roché in 1675 Anthony de la Roché (spelled also Antoine de la Roché, Antonio de la Roché or Antonio de la Roca in some sources) was an English merchant born in London to French Huguenot father and English mother. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Categories: France geography stubs | Communes of Ille-et-Vilaine ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1756 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the British explorer. ... For an explanation of terms such as Scotland, Wales, England, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom, see British Isles (terminology). ... George III redirects here. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Letters Patent by Queen Victoria creating the office of Governor-General of Australia Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of an open letter issued by a monarch or government granting an office, a right, monopoly, title, or status to someone or some entity such as...

In 1882 a German expedition sent out to observe the transit of Venus was stationed at Royal Bay on the south-east side of the island. This article is about the astronomical phenomenon. ... Royal Bay can be seen on Cooks map Royal Bay ( ) is a bay, 4 miles (6 km) wide and indenting 5 miles (8 km), entered between Cape Charlotte and Cape Harcourt along the north coast of South Georgia. ...

Throughout the 19th century South Georgia was a sealers' base and, in the following century, a whalers' base until whaling ended in the 1960s. The first land-based whaling station, and first permanent habitation, was established at Grytviken in 1904 by Norwegian Carl Anton Larsen. It operated through his Argentine Fishing Company, which settled in Grytviken.^[2][3] The station remained in operation until 1965. Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ... Carl Anton Larsen (b. ...

Whaling stations operated under leases granted by the (British) Governor of the Falkland Islands. The seven stations, all on the north coast with its sheltered harbours were, starting from the west: A harbor (or harbour) or haven is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. ...

• Prince Olav Harbour (from 1911-1916 factory ship and small station, land-based station 1917–1931)
• Leith Harbour (1909–1965)
• Stromness (from 1907 factory ship, land-based station 1913–1931, repair yard to 1960/1961)
• Husvik (from 1907 factory ship, land-based station 1910–1960, not in operation 1930–1945)
• Grytviken (1904–1964)
• Godthul (1908–1929, only a rudimentary land base, main operations on factory ship)
• Ocean Harbour (1909–1920)

With the end of the whaling industry the stations were abandoned. Apart from a few preserved buildings such as the museum and church at Grytviken, only their decaying remains survive. Location of Prince Olav Harbour Prince Olav Harbour ( ) is a small harbour in the southwest portion of Cook Bay, entered between Point Abrahamsen and Sheep Point, along the north coast of South Georgia. ... Formerly a royal burgh, Leith is a town at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is the port of Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Stromness is a former whaling station on the northern coast of South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic. ... Husvik is a former whaling station on the north-central coast of South Georgia Island. ... Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ... Historical and modern settlements of South Georgia Island, showing Godthul Godthul ( ) is a bay 1 mile (1. ... Historical and modern settlements of South Georgia Island, showing Ocean Harbour Ocean Harbour ( ) is a deeply indented bay on the north coast of South Georgia which is entered 1. ...

The church at Grytviken.

This photograph was taken by Frank Hurley during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

From 1905 the Argentine Meteorological Office cooperated in maintaining the meteorological observatory at Grytviken under the British lease requirements of the whaling station until these changed in 1949. Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ... Image File history File links PanoramaOfSouthGeorgia. ... Image File history File links PanoramaOfSouthGeorgia. ... Chateau Wood, Ypres, 1917 by Frank Hurley James Francis Frank Hurley (1885 - 1962) was an official photographer with the Australian Imperial Force during World War I. Hurley travelled on a number of expedititions to the Antarctic including Douglas Mawsons 1911 expedition. ... The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition was the fourth British Antarctic exploration of the 20th century, and aimed, but ultimately failed, to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent from one side to the other. ... For other uses, see 1905 (disambiguation). ... Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ... This article is about a property agreement in private law. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1908 the United Kingdom issued a further Letters Patent to establish constitutional arrangements for its possessions in the South Atlantic. As well as South Georgia, the Letters Patent covered the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, the South Sandwich Islands, and Graham Land. (The claim was extended in 1917 to also include a sector of Antarctica reaching to the South Pole.) From 1909 an administrative centre and residence was established at King Edward Point on South Georgia, near the whaling station of Grytviken. A permanent local British administration and resident Magistrate exercised effective possession, enforcement of British law, and regulation of all economic, scientific and other activities in the territory, which was then governed as the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Letters Patent by Queen Victoria creating the office of Governor-General of Australia Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of an open letter issued by a monarch or government granting an office, a right, monopoly, title, or status to someone or some entity such as... The South Orkney Islands (Spanish: Islas Orcadas) are a group of sub-antarctic islands situated at latitudes 60°50 to 60°83 S, and longitudes 44°25 to 46°25 W in the Southern Ocean. ... Map of Antarctica Graham Land is that portion of the Antarctic Peninsula which lies north of a line joining Cape Jeremy and Cape Agassiz. ... For other uses, see South Pole (disambiguation). ... The crew of the oceanographic research vessel Princesse Alice, of Albert Grimaldi (later Prince Albert I of Monaco) pose while flensing a catch. ... Cumberland Bay and Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) Grytviken (Swedish for Pot Cove; Grytvika/Grytviken in Norwegian) is the principal settlement in the United Kingdom territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. ... The term Administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction. ... A magistrate is a judicial officer. ... Look up Possession in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The law of the United Kingdom consists of several independent legal systems which use common law principles, civil law principles, or both. ...

In April 1916, Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition became stranded on Elephant Island, some 800 miles south west of South Georgia. Shackleton and five companions set out in a small boat to summon help, and on May 10, after an epic voyage, they landed at King Haakon Bay on South Georgia's south coast. They then covered 22 miles overland to reach help at Stromness whaling station. The remaining 22 members of the expedition, who had stayed on Elephant Island, were all subsequently rescued. In January 1922, during a later expedition, Shackleton died on board ship off South Georgia. He is buried at Grytviken. Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer. ... The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition was the fourth British Antarctic exploration of the 20th century, and aimed, but ultimately failed, to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent from one side to the other. ... A NASA satellite photograph of Elephant Island Elephant Island is an ice-covered, mountainous island off the coast of Antarctica in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands in the Southern Ocean. ... King Haakon Bay is an inlet on the southern coast of the island of South Georgia. ...

Argentina claimed South Georgia in 1927. Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Historical and modern settlements of South Georgia Island

During World War II, the Royal Navy deployed an armed merchant vessel to patrol South Georgian and Antarctic waters against German raiders, along with two four-inch shore guns (still present) protecting Cumberland Bay and Stromness Bay, manned by volunteers from among the Norwegian whalers. The base at King Edward Point was expanded as a research facility in 1949/1950 by the British Antarctic Survey (until 1962 called Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey). Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Commerce raiding or guerre de course is a naval strategy of attacking an opponents commercial shipping rather than contending for control of the seas with its naval forces. ... This article is about the video game. ... BAS headquarters The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), formerly the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), is an institute of the Natural Environment Research Council, and has, for the last fifty years, undertaken the majority of Britains scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. ...

The Falklands War was precipitated on 19 March 1982 when a group of Argentinians, posing as scrap metal merchants, occupied the abandoned whaling station at Leith Harbour on South Georgia. On April 3 the Argentine troops attacked and occupied Grytviken. Among the commanding officers of the Argentine Garrison was Alfredo Astiz, a Captain in the Argentine Navy who, years later, was convicted of felonies committed during the Dirty War in Argentina. Belligerents Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties and losses 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Argentine redirects here. ... Formerly a royal burgh, Leith is a town at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is the port of Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Image:AstizArg. ... The Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada de la República Argentina, ARA) is the navy of Argentina. ... Poster by the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo NGO with photos of disappeared. This article especially refers to the Argentine dirty war; however, the term has been used in other contexts, for example in Morocco; see also lead years. ...

The island was recaptured by British forces on 25 April (Operation Paraquet). From 1985, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ceased to be administered as a Falkland Islands Dependency and became a separate territory. The King Edward Point base, which had become a small military garrison after the Falklands war, returned to civilian use in 2001 and is now operated by the British Antarctic Survey. is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Paraquet was the code-word for the British military operation to recapture the Island of South Georgia from Argentine military control in April 1982. ... Belligerents Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties and losses 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner... BAS headquarters The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), formerly the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), is an institute of the Natural Environment Research Council, and has, for the last fifty years, undertaken the majority of Britains scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. ...

South Sandwich Islands

The southern eight islands of the Sandwich Islands Group were discovered by James Cook in 1775; the northern three by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1819.^{[clarification needed]} They were named "Sandwich Land" by Cook after the 4th Earl of Sandwich, 1st Lord of the Admiralty. The word "South" was later added to distinguish them from the "Sandwich Islands", now known as "Hawaii". This article is about the British explorer. ... A portrait of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (also known as Russian: ; Faddey Faddeyevich Bellinsgauzen) (September 20, 1778–January 13, 1852) served as a naval officer of the Russian Empire and commanded the second Russian expedition to circumnavigate the globe. ... John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, 1783, by Sir Thomas Gainsborough For other persons of the same name, see John Montagu. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

The United Kingdom formally annexed the South Sandwich Islands through the 1908 Letters Patent, grouping them with other British-held territory in Antarctica as the Falkland Islands Dependencies.

Argentina claimed the South Sandwich Islands in 1938, and challenged British sovereignty in the Islands on several occasions. From January 25, 1955 through summer of 1956 Argentina maintained the summer station Teniente Esquivel at Ferguson Bay on the Southeastern coast of Thule Island. From 1976 to 1982, Argentina maintained a naval base named Corbeta Uruguay, at Port Faraday, in the lee (southern East coast) of the same island. Although the British discovered the presence of the Argentine base in 1978, protested and tried to resolve the issue by diplomatic means, no effort was made to remove them by force until after the Falklands War. The base was eventually removed on June 20, 1982. Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Thule Island is one of the southermost of the South Sandwich Islands. ... ca. ... Belligerents Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties and losses 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ...

On February 10, 2008 a small earthquake of 6.5 in Richter Scale had its epicenter 205 km SSE away from Bristol Island.^[4] is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the natural seismic phenomenon. ... The Richter magnitude test scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the size of an earthquake. ...

On Jun 30 2008 06:17:53 UTC an earthquake of 7.0 Magnitude. Epicenter was 58.160S 21.893W. http://neic.usgs.gov

 * 283 km (176 miles) ENE (73 degrees) of Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands * 358 km (223 miles) ESE (119 degrees) of Visokoi Island, South Sandwich Islands * 2374 km (1476 miles) ESE (122 degrees) of STANLEY, Falkland Islands * 3054 km (1898 miles) ESE (120 degrees) of Punta Arenas, Chile. 

Geography

CIA map of the Islands.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are a collection of bleak and remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. Most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous. At higher elevations the islands are permanently covered with ice and snow. Image File history File links 250px-South_Georgia_and_South_Sandwich_Islands. ... Image File history File links 250px-South_Georgia_and_South_Sandwich_Islands. ...

South Georgia Group

The South Georgia Group (Spanish name Georgias del Sur) lies about 1,390 kilometres (864 mi) east-southeast of the Falkland Islands, at 54°-55°S, 36°-38°W. It comprises South Georgia Island itself (by far the largest island in the territory), along with the islands that immediately surround it and some remote and isolated islets to the west and east-southeast. It has a total land area of 3,756 square kilometres (1,450 sq mi), including satellite islands (but excluding the South Sandwich Islands which form a separate island group). “km” redirects here. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. ... Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Islands in the South Georgia Group

South Georgia Island, also called Pepys Island (San Pedro in Spanish), lies at 54°15′S 36°45′W / -54.25, -36.75Coordinates: 54°15′S 36°45′W / -54.25, -36.75 and has an area of 3,528 km². It is mountainous and largely barren. Eleven peaks rise to over 2,000 metres (6,562 ft) high, their slopes furrowed with deep gorges filled with glaciers (Fortuna Glacier being the largest). The highest peak is Mount Paget in the Allardyce Range at 2,934 metres (9,626 ft). Pepys Island was a phantom island, said to lie about 230 miles north of the Falkland Islands. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Fortuna Glacier is a tidewater glacier at the mouth of Cumberland Bay on the island of South Georgia. ... Mount Paget is a saddle-shaped mountain, marking the highest point of the Allardyce Range in the central part of South Georgia. ... The Allardyce Range is a mountain range rising south of Cumberland Bay and dominating the central part of South Georgia, a UK overseas territory. ...

Geologically, the island consists of gneiss and argillaceous schists, with no trace of fossils, showing that the island is, like the Falkland Islands, a surviving fragment of some greater land-mass now vanished, most probably indicating a former extension of the Andean system. Gneiss Gneiss (pronounced ) is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from preexisting formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks. ... Argillaceous schist is metamorphic rock which exhibits fine laminations of clay materials. ...

Smaller islands and islets off the coast of South Georgia Island include:

• Annenkov Island
• Bird Island
• Cooper Island
• Grass Island
• Pickersgill Islands
• Welcome Islands
• Willis Islands
• Trinity Island

The following remote rocks are also considered part of the South Georgia Group: Annenokov Island ( ) is to the west of the main island of South Georgia. ... Bird Island off South Georgia Bird Island (54°00′ S 038°03′ W) is 4. ... Cooper Island can be seen on Cooks map Cooper Island ( ) is a small island to the south east of the main island of South Georgia. ... Grass Island ( ) is a conspicuous island lying across the entrance to Stromness Harbour in Stromness Bay, South Georgia. ... The Pickersgill Islands, so called can be seen on Cooks map The Pickersgill Islands ( ) are a small archipelago to the west of the main island of South Georgia. ... The Welcome Islands ( ) are a small rocky archipelago to the north of the main island of South Georgia. ... Motto: Leo Terram Propriam Protegat Official language English Capital Grytviken Civil Commisioner Howard Pearce Area  - Total  - % water not ranked 3,093 km² - Population  - Total (2003 E)  - Density not ranked ~100 n/a; Currency Falkland pound (FKP; fixed to GBP) Time zone UTC -4 (DST -3) National anthem God Save the... Trinity Island or Isla Trinidad is an island having three peaks, lying 0. ...

• Shag Rocks 185 km (115 mi) west-northwest of South Georgia Island
• Black Rock 169 km (105 mi) west-northwest of South Georgia Island and 16 km (10 mi) southeast of the Shag Rocks
• Clerke Rocks 56 km (35 mi) east-southeast of South Georgia Island

Image:Shag Rocks. ... Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. ... The Shag Rocks The Shag Rocks are 6 small islands in the westernmost extreme of South Georgia, 240 kilometers West of the main island of South Georgia and 1000 kilometers east of the Falkland Islands. ... Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. ... The Clerke Rocks are a group small rocky islands 74 km Southeast of South Georgia at 55°01 S, 34°41 W, that extend 8 km in an from East to West. ... Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. ...

South Sandwich Islands

NASA satellite photograph of Montagu Island

The South Sandwich Islands (Spanish name: Islas Sandwich del Sur) comprise 11 mostly volcanic islands (excluding tiny satellite islands and offshore rocks), with some active volcanoes. They form an island arc running from north to south in the region 56°18'–59°27'S, 26°23'–28°08'W, between about 350 miles (563 km) and 500 miles (805 km) south east of South Georgia. NASA satellite photo of Montagu Island This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... NASA satellite photo of Montagu Island This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska photographed from the International Space Station For other uses, see Volcano (disambiguation). ... An island arc is a type of archipelago formed by plate tectonics as one oceanic tectonic plate subducts under another and produces magma. ...

The northernmost of the South Sandwich Islands form the Traversay Islands and Candlemas Islands groups, while the southernmost make up Southern Thule. The three largest islands – Saunders, Montagu and Bristol – lie between the two. The Islands' highest point is Mount Belinda (1,370 m / 4,495 ft) on Montagu Island. The Traversay Islands ( 56°36′ S 027°43′ W) are a group of three islands, consisting of Zavodovski, Leskov, and Visokoi Islands, at the northern end of the South Sandwich Islands. ... The Candlemas Islands or Islas Candelaria are a small group of islands, consisting of two islands (Candlemas Island (57°05′ S 26°39′ W) and Vindication Island (57°06′ S 26°47′ W)) and numerous rocks, lying 23 miles southeast of Visokoi Island in the South Sandwich Islands at the... Part of the British Crown Dependency of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Orthographic projection centred on the South Sandwich Islands South Sandwich Islands Southern Thule is a collection of the three southernmost islands in the South Sandwich Islands: Bellingshausen, Cook, and Thule (Morrell). ... Saunders Island location Orthographic projection centred over the South Sandwich Islands Saunders Island (57° 47′ S, 026° 27′ W) is an arc-shaped island 8. ... Montagu Island is the largest of the South Sandwich Islands, located in the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica at 58°25′S 26°23′W. NASA satellite photograph of Montagu Island Orthographic projection centred on the South Sandwich Islands South Sandwich Islands The desolate, uninhabited island measures approximately... Categories: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Geography stubs ...

The South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited, though a permanently manned Argentine research station was located on Thule Island from 1976 to 1982 (for details, see "History" section above). There are automatic weather stations on Thule (Morrell) Island and Zavodovski. To the northwest of Zavodovski Island is the Protector Shoal, a submarine volcano. Thule Island is one of the southermost of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Thule Island is one of the southermost of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Zavodovski Island is a volcanic island in the South Sandwich Islands. ... Protector Shoal (55. ...

The following table lists the South Sandwich Islands from north to south:

The Traversay Islands ( 56°36′ S 027°43′ W) are a group of three islands, consisting of Zavodovski, Leskov, and Visokoi Islands, at the northern end of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Protector Shoal (55. ... Protector Shoal (55. ... Zavodovski Island is a volcanic island in the South Sandwich Islands. ... Leskov Island (56º40´S 028º10´W) is less than 1. ... Location of Visokoi Island South Sandwich Islands Visokoi Island () is an uninhabited island in the Traversay Islands group of the South Sandwich Islands. ... The Candlemas Islands or Islas Candelaria are a small group of islands, consisting of two islands (Candlemas Island (57°05′ S 26°39′ W) and Vindication Island (57°06′ S 26°47′ W)) and numerous rocks, lying 23 miles southeast of Visokoi Island in the South Sandwich Islands at the... Candlemas Island lies about two miles from Vindication Island and the two are separated by the Nelson Channel. ... Mount Andromeda is the higher (550 m) and more southerly of the twin ice domes, this one marking the summit of Candlemas Island, South Sandwich Islands. ... Orthographic projection centred on the South Sandwich Islands South Sandwich Islands Vindication Island lies about two miles from Candlemas Island and the two are separated by the Nelson Channel. ... Quadrant Peak is a peak (430 m) forming the summit of Vindication Island, South Sandwich Islands. ... Saunders Island location Orthographic projection centred over the South Sandwich Islands Saunders Island (57° 47′ S, 026° 27′ W) is an arc-shaped island 8. ... Montagu Island is the largest of the South Sandwich Islands, located in the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica at 58°25′S 26°23′W. NASA satellite photograph of Montagu Island Orthographic projection centred on the South Sandwich Islands South Sandwich Islands The desolate, uninhabited island measures approximately... Mount Belinda is a stratovolcano located on Montagu Island, in the South Sandwich Islands of the Scotia Sea. ... Categories: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Geography stubs ... Part of the British Crown Dependency of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Orthographic projection centred on the South Sandwich Islands South Sandwich Islands Southern Thule is a collection of the three southernmost islands in the South Sandwich Islands: Bellingshausen, Cook, and Thule (Morrell). ... Bellingshausen Island (59º25´S 027º03´W) is one of the most southerly of the South Sandwich Islands, close to Thule Island and Russian Antarctic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (1778-1852) who discovered the island. ... Location of Cook Island South Sandwich Islands Cook Island () is the central island of Southern Thule, in the South Sandwich Islands. ... Thule Island is one of the southermost of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Mount Belinda is a stratovolcano located on Montagu Island, in the South Sandwich Islands of the Scotia Sea. ...

Climate

NASA satellite image of South Georgia Island covered with snow.

The permanently cold sea maintains a cold maritime climate on the islands, and the weather is very variable and harsh.^{[citation needed]} Typical daily maximum temperatures in South Georgia at sea level are around 0°C (32°F) in winter (August) and 8°C (46°F) in summer (January). Winter minimum temperatures are typically about −5°C (23°F) and rarely dip below −10°C (14°F). Annual precipitation in South Georgia is about 1500 mm (59 in), much of which falls as sleet or snow, which is possible in any month. Inland, the snow line in summer is at an altitude of about 300m. This is a true-color satellite image of South Georgia Island. ... This is a true-color satellite image of South Georgia Island. ...

Westerly winds blow throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm. This gives the eastern side of South Georgia (leeward side) a much pleasanter climate than the exposed western side. The prevailing weather conditions generally make the islands difficult to approach by ship, though the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays which provide good anchorage. During mountain wind conditions, the winds blow straight up the western side and straight down the eastern side of the mountains and become much warmer and drier; this produces the most pleasant conditions when temperatures can occasionally rise over 20°C on summer days. The highest recorded temperature was 23°C at Grytviken. A foehn wind occurs when a deep layer of prevailing wind is forced over a mountain range. ...

The seas surrounding South Georgia are cold throughout the year due to the proximity of the Antarctic Current. They usually remain free of pack ice in winter, though thin ice may form in sheltered bays, and icebergs are common.^[5] Sea temperatures drop to 0°C in late August and rise to around 4°C only in early April. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is an ocean current that flows from west to east around Antarctica. ... For other uses, see Iceberg (disambiguation). ...

The South Sandwich Islands are much colder than South Georgia, being further south and more exposed to cold outbreaks from the Antarctic continent. They are also surrounded by sea ice from the middle of May to late November (even longer at their southern end).^[6]

Politics

Executive power is vested in The Queen and is exercised by the Commissioner, a post held by the Governor of the Falkland Islands. The current Commissioner is Alan Huckle; he became Commissioner on 25 August 2006. A Chief Executive Officer (Harriet Hall) deals with policy matters and is also Director of SGSSI Fisheries, responsible for the allocation of fishing licenses. An Executive Officer (Richard McKee) deals with administrative matters relating to the territory. The Financial Secretary and Attorney General of the territory are appointed ex officio similar appointments in the Falkland Islands' Government. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Flag of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands The Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. ... Nowadays, the Governor of the Falkland Islands is the local representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands. ... Alan Huckle Alan Edden Huckle (born June 15, 1948) is a British colonial administrator. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

As there are no permanent inhabitants on the islands, there is no legislative council and no elections are held. The UK Foreign Office manages the foreign relations of the territory. Since 1982, the territory celebrates Liberation Day on June 14. A Legislative Council in British constitutional thought is the second-to-top tier of a government led by a Governor-General, Governor or a Lieutenant-Governor, inferior to an Executive Council and equal to or superior to a Legislative Assembly. ... Liberation Day is a day, often a public holiday, that marks the liberation of a place, similar to an independence day. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The constitution of the territory (adopted 3 October 1985), the manner in which its government is directed, and the availability of judicial review were discussed in a series of litigations in 2001 to 2005; see in particular Regina v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Appellant) ex parte Quark Fishing Limited [2005] UKHL 57.^[7] Although its government is entirely directed by the UK Foreign Office, it was held that its decisions under that direction could not be challenged as if they were in law decisions of a UK government department; thus the European Convention on Human Rights did not apply. is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Economy

This postage stamp depicting a fin whale was issued in 1963.

As there are no native inhabitants, economic activity in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is limited. The territory has revenues of UK£3.9 million, 90% of which is derived from fishing licences (2002 figures).^[8] Other sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps and coins, tourism and customs and harbour dues. Image File history File links Stamp_South_Georgia_1963_4d. ... Image File history File links Stamp_South_Georgia_1963_4d. ... Finback redirects here. ... This 1974 stamp from Japan depicts a Class 8620 steam locomotive. ... Tourist redirects here. ...

Fishing

Fishing takes place around South Georgia and in adjacent waters in some months of the year, with fishing licences sold by the territory for Patagonian toothfish, icefish and krill. Fishing licences bring in a handful of million pounds a year, most of which is spent on fishery protection and research. All fisheries are regulated and managed in accordance with the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) system. In 2001, the South Georgia government received a certificate from the Marine Stewardship Council for its sustainable Patagonian toothfish fishery, which certifies that they met the MSC's environmental standards and places limits on the timing and quantity of Patagonian toothfish that may be caught.^[9] Binomial name Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt, 1898 The Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) is a large fish found in the cold, temperate waters (from 50 to 3850m) of the Southern Atlantic, Southern Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans on seamounts and continental shelves around most sub-Antarctic islands. ... Species Chaenocephalus aceratus (16 more) The icefishes (or white-blooded fishes) are a family (Channichthyidae) of perciform fish found in the cold waters around Antarctica and southern South America. ... Families Euphausiidae Euphausia Dana, 1852 Meganyctiphanes Holt and W. M. Tattersall, 1905 Nematobrachion Calman, 1905 Nematoscelis G. O. Sars, 1883 Nyctiphanes G. O. Sars, 1883 Pseudeuphausia Hansen, 1910 Stylocheiron G. O. Sars, 1883 Tessarabrachion Hansen, 1911 Thysanoessa Brandt, 1851 Thysanopoda Latreille, 1831 Bentheuphausiidae Bentheuphausia amblyops Krill are shrimp-like marine... The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources is part of the Antarctic Treaty System. ... The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent non-profit organization that aims to promote sustainable fishery practices. ...

Tourism

Tourism has become a larger source of income in recent years, with many cruise ships and sailing yachts visiting the islands (the only way to visit South Georgia is by sea). The territory gains income from landing charges and the sale of souvenirs. Cruise ships often combine a Grytviken visit with a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula. Charter yacht visits usually begin in the Falkland Islands, last between four and six weeks, and enable guests to visit remote harbors of South Georgia and even the South Sandwich Islands. Sailing vessels are now required to anchor out and can no longer tie up to the old whaling piers on shore.^{[citation needed]} The island has also featured in the Warren Miller video 'Storm'. Warren Miller is an acclaimed filmmaker, entrepreneur, and author. ...

Postage stamps

A large source of income from abroad also comes from the issue of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands postage stamps which are produced in the UK.

A reasonable policy (few sets of stamps are issued each year) along with attractive subject matter (especially whales) makes them very popular with topical stamp collectors.

Flora and fauna

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Giant petrel on South Georgia Island

120,000 King Penguins on Salisbury Plain (Aptenodytes patagonicus).

Wandering Albatross at South Georgia Island

South Georgia supports a great number of sea birds, including albatross, a large colony of King Penguins and penguins of various other species, along with petrels, prions, shags, skuas, gulls and terns. There is only one land species which is unique to the archipelago however, the South Georgia Pipit. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (1944 × 1296 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (1944 × 1296 pixel, file size: 2. ... Binomial name (Gmelin, 1789) Macronectes halli (Mathews, 1912) Giant petrel at South Georgia Island The giant petrels are two large seabirds from the genus Macronectes. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 1269 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates King Penguin Wikipedia:Featured picture... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 1269 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates King Penguin Wikipedia:Featured picture... Binomial name Aptenodytes patagonicus Miller,JF, 1778 The King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is the second largest species of penguin at about 90 cm (3 ft) tall and weighing 11 to 16 kg (24 to 35 lb), second only to the Emperor Penguin. ... 120,000 King Penguins on Salisbury Plain (Aptenodytes patagonicus). ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 1029 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 1029 pixel, file size: 1. ... Binomial name Diomedea exulans Linnaeus, 1758 The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans), is a large seabird from the family Diomedeidae which has a circumpolar range in the Southern Ocean. ... This article is about the bird family. ... Binomial name Aptenodytes patagonicus Miller,JF, 1778 The King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is the second largest species of penguin at about 90 cm (3 ft) tall and weighing 11 to 16 kg (24 to 35 lb), second only to the Emperor Penguin. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... A Southern Giant Petrel petrel chick Petrels are tube-nosed seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. ... Species Fairy Prion, Slender-billed Prion, Fulmar Prion, Broad-billed Prion, Antarctic Prion, Salvins Prion, A prion is a petrel (genus Pachyptila) found in Antarctica and nearby islands. ... The shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) is a water bird which inhabits rocky coasts of Europe. ... For other uses: see Skua (disambiguation). ... “Seagull” redirects here. ... Genera Sterna (Gelochelidon) (Hydroprogne) (Thalasseus) Chlidonias Phaetusa Anous Procelsterna Gygis Larosterna Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily Sterninae of the gull family Laridae. ... Binomial name Cabanis, 1884 The South Georgia Pipit (Anthus antarcticus) is a sparrow sized bird, only found on the South Georgia archipelago. ...

Seals are frequent on the islands, and whales may be seen in the surrounding waters. There are no native land mammals, though reindeer, introduced early in the 20th century, live on South Georgia, along with rats and mice. Families Odobenidae Otariidae Phocidae Pinnipeds (fin-feet, lit. ... This article is about the animal. ... Caribou redirects here. ... This article is about rats. ... This article is about the rodent. ...

Native vegetation on South Georgia is limited to grasses, mosses, lichens, ferns and a few other small flowering plants. A number of other introduced species have become naturalised. There are no trees or shrubs. For other uses, see Grass (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Moss (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Lichen (disambiguation). ... This article is about the group of pteridophyte plants. ...

Military

Main article: Military of the Falkland Islands

After the Falklands War in 1982, a full-time British military presence was maintained at King Edward Point. This was scaled down during the 1990s, and the last detachment left South Georgia in March 2001, when the new station was built and occupied by the British Antarctic Survey. A British joint-forces flag used in the Falkands [1] The Falkland Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and, as such, rely on the UK for guarantee of their security. ... Belligerents Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties and losses 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner...

The main British military facility in the region is at RAF Mount Pleasant (and Mare Harbour) on East Falkland. Other than that, a handful of British naval vessels patrol the region. They visit South Georgia a few times each year, sometimes deploying small patrols of infantry. Flights by RAF C130 Hercules and VC10 aircraft occasionally patrol the territory. RAF Mount Pleasant (IATA: MPN, ICAO: EGYP) (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport or Mount Pleasant Complex)[1] is a military base for the Royal Air Force in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. ... Mare Harbour (Spanish: Puerto Yegua [1]) is a small settlement on East Falkland. ... East Falkland (beige) shown within Falkland Islands East Falkland, the largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, has an area of 6,605 square kilometres. ...

HMS Endurance, the British Royal Navy ice patrol ship, operates in the South Georgia area during part of most southern summer seasons. She carries out hydrological and mapping work as well as assisting with scientific fieldwork for the British Antarctic Survey, high-profile film and photographic units, and youth expedition group BSES Expeditions. For other ships with the same name, see HMS Endurance. ... BSES Expeditions is a youth development charity based in the United Kingdom. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

CIA World Fact Book, 2004/South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

• List of prominent South Georgians
• Sub-antarctic islands

Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... The original Wikisource logo. ... People who were born on South Georgia Island, or lived there for a period of time, or visited the island, and were prominent in its history. ... The sub-antarctic islands are the islands in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. ...

Footnotes

Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) is an Austin, Texas-based natural foods grocer, which, as of July 5, 2007, consisted of 196[3] locations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. ... Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) is an Austin, Texas-based natural foods grocer, which, as of July 5, 2007, consisted of 196[3] locations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• George Forster, A Voyage Round the World in His Britannic Majesty's Sloop Resolution Commanded by Capt. James Cook, during the Years 1772, 3, 4 and 5 (2 vols.) , London, 1777.
• R.K. Headland, The Island of South Georgia, Cambridge University Press, 1984.

External links

• South Georgia government website
• South Georgia Heritage Trust
• South Georgia Association website
• Live picture from the South Georgia webcam
• Operation Paraquat
• Argentine invasion of South Georgia
• South Georgia Wiki

Geographic locale
v • d • e South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Georgia Islands Annenkov Island · Bird Island · Clerke Rocks · Cooper Island · Grass Island · Kupriyanov Islands · Pickersgill Islands · Saddle Island · Shag Rocks · South Georgia · Welcome Islands · Willis Islands South Sandwich Islands Bellingshausen · Bristol · Candlemas · Cook · Leskov · Montagu · Saunders · Thule · Vindication · Visokoi · Zavodovski · Traversay Islands v • d • e  British overseas territories and Crown dependencies Overseas territories Anguilla · Bermuda · British Antarctic Territory · British Indian Ocean Territory · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Falkland Islands · Gibraltar · Montserrat · Pitcairn Islands · St. Helena (includes Ascension Island · Tristan da Cunha · Gough Island) · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands · Turks and Caicos Islands Crown dependencies Guernsey · Jersey · Isle of Man Sovereign base areas Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia v • d • e Outlying territories of European countries Territories under European sovereignty but closer to or on continents other than Europe (see inclusion criteria for further information) Denmark Greenland France Clipperton Island · French Guiana · French Polynesia · French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Amsterdam • Saint-Paul • Crozet • Kerguelen • Adélie Land • Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean:  Bassas da India • Europa Island • Glorioso Islands • Juan de Nova Island • Tromelin Island) · Guadeloupe · Martinique · Mayotte · New Caledonia · Réunion · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · Wallis and Futuna Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is an XML-based language for describing three-dimensional geospatial data and its display in application programs. ... GeoTagging, sometimes referred to as Geocoding, is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media such as websites, RSS feeds, or images. ... South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, also claimed by Argentina. ... South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, also claimed by Argentina. ... Motto: Leo Terram Propriam Protegat (Latin: Let the Lion protect his own land or May the Lion protect his own land) Official language English Capital Grytviken Commissioner Alan Huckle Area  - Total  - % water not ranked 3,903 km² - Population  - Total (2006 E)  - Density not ranked ~20 n/a; Currency GBP Time... Annenokov Island ( ) is to the west of the main island of South Georgia. ... Location of Bird Island Bird Island off South Georgia Bird Island is 4. ... The Clerke Rocks are a group small rocky islands 74 km Southeast of South Georgia at 55°01 S, 34°41 W, that extend 8 km in an from East to West. ... Cooper Island can be seen on Cooks map Cooper Island ( ) is a small island to the south east of the main island of South Georgia. ... Grass Island ( ) is a conspicuous island lying across the entrance to Stromness Harbour in Stromness Bay, South Georgia. ... The Kupriyanov Islands () is a small island lying to the south west of South Georgia, off the Novosilski Glacier [1], close south of Diaz Cove. ... The Pickersgill Islands, so called can be seen on Cooks map The Pickersgill Islands ( ) are a small archipelago to the west of the main island of South Georgia. ... The Shag Rocks in January 2006 The Shag Rocks (Spanish: Islas Aurora) are six small islands in the westernmost extreme of South Georgia, 240 km (150 mi) west of the main island of South Georgia and 1000 km (620 mi) off the Falkland Islands. ... South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, also claimed by Argentina. ... The Welcome Islands ( ) are a small rocky archipelago to the north of the main island of South Georgia. ... not to be confused with Willis Island The Willis Islands ( ) are a small archipelago to the west of the main island of South Georgia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Georgia_and_the_South_Sandwich_Islands. ... South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, also claimed by Argentina. ... Bellingshausen Island (59º25´S 027º03´W) is one of the most southerly of the South Sandwich Islands, close to Thule Island and Russian Antarctic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (1778-1852) who discovered the island. ... Categories: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Geography stubs ... Candlemas Island lies about two miles from Vindication Island and the two are separated by the Nelson Channel. ... Location of Cook Island South Sandwich Islands Cook Island () is the central island of Southern Thule, in the South Sandwich Islands. ... Leskov Island (56º40´S 028º10´W) is less than 1. ... Montagu Island is the largest of the South Sandwich Islands, located in the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica at 58°25′S 26°23′W. NASA satellite photograph of Montagu Island Orthographic projection centred on the South Sandwich Islands South Sandwich Islands The desolate, uninhabited island measures approximately... Saunders Island location Orthographic projection centred over the South Sandwich Islands Saunders Island (57° 47′ S, 026° 27′ W) is an arc-shaped island 8. ... Thule Island is one of the southermost of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Orthographic projection centred on the South Sandwich Islands South Sandwich Islands Vindication Island lies about two miles from Candlemas Island and the two are separated by the Nelson Channel. ... Location of Visokoi Island South Sandwich Islands Visokoi Island () is an uninhabited island in the Traversay Islands group of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Zavodovski Island is a volcanic island in the South Sandwich Islands. ... The Traversay Islands ( 56°36′ S 027°43′ W) are a group of three islands, consisting of Zavodovski, Leskov, and Visokoi Islands, at the northern end of the South Sandwich Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... “UK” redirects here. ... Location of the British Overseas Territories The British Overseas Territories are fourteen[1] territories which the United Kingdom considers to be under its sovereignty, but not as part of the United Kingdom itself. ... Motto: Research and Discovery Anthem: God Save the Queen Status British overseas territory Official language(s) - Commissioner Tony Crombie Administrator Michael Richardson Area 1,395,000 km² Population c. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Capital Georgetown Largest city Georgetown Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... Motto Our faith is our strength Anthem God Save the Queen Capital (and largest city) Edinburgh of the Seven Seas Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... Gough Island (occasionally referred to (erroneously) as Diego Alvarez) is a volcanic island rising from the South Atlantic Ocean to heights of over 900 metres (2950 ft) above sea level with an area of approximately 65 km² (25 mi²). It is part of Tristan da Cunha, a dependency of the... The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, and the bailiwicks of Jersey and Guersey are situated in the English Channel to the west of the Cotentin Crown dependencies are possessions of The Crown in Right of the United Kingdom, as opposed to... The UK Sovereign Base Areas are those British military base areas located in countries formerly ruled by the United Kingdom which were retained by it and not handed over when those countries attained independence. ... Anthem God Save the Queen Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Occupied Areas) Sovereign Base Areas indicated in pink. ... Types of administrative and/or political territories include: A legally administered territory, which is a non-sovereign geographic area that has come under the authority of another government. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to have control over an area of governance, people, or oneself. ... ÃŽle Amsterdam IPA: (meaning Amsterdam island, after the Dutch capital) is a French island in the Indian Ocean located at . ... Map of St. ... Orthographic projection centred over the Iles Crozet The Crozet Islands (French: ÃŽles Crozet or officially Archipel Crozet) are a sub-antarctic archipelago of small islands in the southern Indian Ocean, part of the French Southern Territories. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Adélie Land is the portion of the Antarctic coast between Pourquoi Pas Point at 66°12S, 136°11E and Point Alden at 66°48S, 142°02E, with a shore length of 350 km and with its hinterland extending as a sector about 2600 km toward... Location of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean: • 1 : Bassas da India • 2 : Europa Island • 3 : Glorioso Islands • 4 : Juan de Nova Island • 5 : Tromelin Island (KM : Comoros, MG : Madagascar, MU : Mauritius, MZ : Mozambique, RE : Réunion, YT : Mayotte) The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (French: ÃŽles Éparses... Anthem For Sweden - The Land of The Incredible Biffs Capital (and largest city) Gustavia Official languages Swedish Government  -  Prime Minister of Sweden Nick XII Bonaparte  -  Prefect Per af Biffsläkt  -  President of the Territorial Council none yet; however Henning is the mayor of Saint-Barthelemy Overseas Collectivity of Sweden   -  Swedish... Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital (and largest city) Marigot Official languages French Government  -  President of France Jacques Chirac  -  Prefect Dominique Lacroix  -  President of the Territorial Council none yet; however Albert Fleming is the mayor of Saint-Martin Overseas Collectivity of France   -  Island divided between France and the Netherlands 23 March 1648... Italy Pantelleria · Pelagie Islands (Lampedusa • Lampione • Linosa) Netherlands Aruba · Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire • Curaçao • Saba • Sint Maarten • Sint Eustatius) Norway Bouvet Island · Peter I Island · Queen Maud Land Portugal Azores Islands · Madeira Islands Russia Khabomai Rocks · Kunashir · Ratmanov Island · Shikotan Spain Canary Islands · Ceuta · Melilla · Plazas de soberanía (Isla Perejil • Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera • Peñón de Alhucemas • Islas Chafarinas) United Kingdom Anguilla · Ascension Island · Bermuda · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Falkland Islands · Montserrat · Saint Helena · Tristan da Cunha · Turks and Caicos Islands · British Antarctic Territory · British Indian Ocean Territory · Pitcairn Islands · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Pantelleria (or Pantalaria, Pantellaria, etc), the ancient Cossyra, is an island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Sicily and just 70 km (43 mi) east of the African coast. ... The Pelagie Islands. ... The Mediterranean island of Lampedusa ( ) belongs to Italy and is the largest of the Pelagie Islands, situated 205 km from Sicily and 113 km from Tunisia. ... Lampione (Italian: Lantern) is a small rocky island located in the Mediterranean Sea, which belongs geographically to the Pelagie Islands and administratively to the comune of Lampedusa (Sicily region). ... Linosa is a Mediterranean island and one of the small Pelagie Islands which are part of the province of Agrigento, Italy. ... Anthem: Tera di Solo y suave biento Capital (and largest city) Kralendijk Official languages Dutch Government See Politics of the Netherlands Antilles  - Bonaire Administrator  - Governor of N.A. Frits Goedgedrag Constitutional monarchy part of the Netherlands Antilles  Area  - Total 288 km² 111 sq mi  Population  - 2001 census 10,791  - Density... For other uses, see Curaçao (disambiguation). ... Motto Remis Velisque (Latin) With oars and sails (English) Anthem Saba you rise from the ocean Capital The Bottom Largest city The Bottom Official languages Dutch, Papiamento and English (unofficial) Government See Politics of the Netherlands Antilles  -  Saba Administrator A.J.M. Solagnier  -  Governor of N.A. Frits Goedgedrag Constitutional... Motto Semper pro grediens (Latin) Anthem O sweet Saint-Martins Land Capital (and largest city) Philipsburg Official languages Dutch, English Government See Politics of the Netherlands Antilles  -  Administrator Franklyn Richards constitutional monarchy part of the Netherlands Antilles, separate country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands as from December 15... Map showing location of Sint Eustatius relative to Saba and Sint Maarten/Saint Martin. ... Fabian von Bellingshausen discovered Peter I Island (in Norwegian ) off West Antarctica on January 21, 1821. ... Queen Maud Land (Norwegian: Dronning Maud Land) is the part of Antarctica lying between the terminus of Stancomb-Wills Glacier, at 20°W, and Shinnan Glacier, at 44° 38E. It has a land area of approximately 2,500,000 km², mostly covered by the Antarctic ice sheet. ... Portuguese) are an archipelago of Portuguese islands situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisbon and about 3,900 km from the east coast of North America. ... Location Motto of the autonomous region: Das ilhas, as mais belas e livres (Portuguese: Of the islands, the most beautiful and free) Official language Portuguese Capital Funchal Other towns Porto Santo, Machico, Santa Cruz, Câmara de Lobos, Santana, Ribeira Brava, Caniço Area 797 km² Population  - Total (1991)  - Density... The Khabomai Rocks (Russian: Хабомаи (Khabomai), Japanese: 歯舞諸島 (Habomai Shotō)) are a group of islets in the southernmost Kuril Islands. ... Kunashir Island (国後島:Kunashiri in Japanese, Кунашир (Kunashir) in Russian, Black Island in Ainu language), a southwestern island of the Kuril Islands, located in the Sakhalin Oblast of the Russian Federation. ... Satellite photo of the Bering Strait, with the Diomede Islands at center. ... Shikotan (色丹島) (Shikotan in Japanese, Шикотан in Russian), one of the bigger islands of the Kuril Islands, located in the Sakhalin Oblast of Russia. ... This article is about the islands in the Atlantic Ocean. ... Capital Ceuta City Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked  28 km²   Population  â€“ Total (2006)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked  75,861    2,709. ... Capital Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked  20 km²   Population  â€“ Total (2006)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked  66,871    3,343. ... The Plazas de Soberanía. ... A satellite NASA World Wind caption of Isla Perejil seen as a tiny island (top middle) The Isla Perejil (Parsley Island in English; Arabic: Leila, night , local, i. ... Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, seen from the Moroccan coast Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is one of the Spanish territories on North Africa off the Moroccan coast (Plazas de soberanía), along with the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla (from which it... 19th-century Spanish map showing the Peñón de Alhucemas Peñón de Alhucemas, or Lavender Rock, is one of the Spanish territories in North Africa off the Moroccan coast, along with the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the island of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera... 19th-century Spanish map showing the Chafarinas. Islas Chafarinas are a group of three small islands located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Morocco, 45 km to the east of Melilla and 3. ... “UK” redirects here. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Capital Georgetown Largest city Georgetown Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... Motto Our faith is our strength Anthem God Save the Queen Capital (and largest city) Edinburgh of the Seven Seas Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... Motto: Research and Discovery Anthem: God Save the Queen Status British overseas territory Official language(s) - Commissioner Tony Crombie Administrator Michael Richardson Area 1,395,000 km² Population c. ... v • d • e Peri-Antarctic countries and overseas territories Argentina · Australia (Heard Island and McDonald Islands • Macquarie Island) · Chile · Falkland Islands · French Southern and Antarctic Lands · New Zealand (New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands) · Norway (Bouvet Island) · South Africa (Prince Edward Islands) · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands For other uses, see Antarctica (disambiguation). ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... World map of dependent territories. ... Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between Australia and Antarctica. ... Five groups of islands form the New Zealand sub-antarctic islands. ... This article is about two South African sub-antarctic islands. ... "Peri-Antarctic" (meaning "close to the Antarctic") does not include territorial claims on Antarctica itself.