South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Grytviken Church Credits: Wikimedia Commons
A wandering albatross on the island Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Satellite image of the South Georgia Islands Credits: Wikimedia Commons
South Giant Petrel on the island Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Central part of South Georgia Island
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
General Information:
Location: Southern Atlantic Ocean
Capital: King Edward Point
Language: English
Population: 30 (but there is no permanent population)
Total Area: 3,903 sq km
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
Annual Average Liquor Consumption per Capita: n/a
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Travel Video
Courtesy: Mark Gottlieb
The Islands
South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is an overseas territory belonging to Britain. It officially became a British territory in 1908 when the UK annexed the islands. SGSSI is a collection of mountainous islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. The islands are snow covered and some are volcano encrusted. Throughout the year, the temperatures are cold and harsh. Although this trend typically holds, in the summertime, strong mountain winds can bring warm air and the temperature can reach almost 70 degrees F.
The People
The South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited but were home to an Argentine research station from 1976 – 1982. There has also been a team of British scientists stationed in King Edward Point from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) since 1982. They control the South Georgia museum and manage commercial fishing in the area. There is no legislative council or elections since there are no permanent residents. While people don’t reside here, there are large populations of penguins, albatross, seals, and reindeer. Commercial fishing does take place in these waters.
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Special thanks to our contributors:
Rebecca Dimyan, Danbury, CT, USA.
