South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

From World travel guide

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are two groups of sub-antarctic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean east of the southern tip of South America, north of Antarctica. The islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom that are administered from the Falkland Islands but are also claimed by Argentina.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Research Stations 3 Understand 4 Get in 5 Get around 6 Talk 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 11 Learn 12 Work 13 Stay safe 14 Stay healthy 15 Respect 16 Contact 17 External links

Regions

The islands include:

• South Georgia Island
• The South Sandwich Islands - Nine uninhabited islands.
• Shag Rocks - Shag rocks consists of bare rocks that rise high above the oceans west of South Georgia and are home to vast numbers of seabirds.
• Black Rock
• Clerke Rocks

Research Stations

While whalers and sealers built settlements on these islands, the only permanent settlements today are at the various research bases. A "city" in these islands may consist of no more than five people during the winter months.

• King Edward Point - Seat of Government where the Government Officer resides. Is the port of entry and home of the Fishery Research base run for the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) by the British Antarctic Survey.
• Grytviken - One of several former whaling stations on South Georgia.
• Bird Island - An island located at the northwest tip of South Georgia on which long-term research by the British Antarctic Survery is ongoing.

Understand

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands are rugged islands, rising out of the Southern Ocean. There are noe indiginous residents, very few people live here and only those who really want to make the trip end up coming.

The islands have played a minor role in history, including a brief occupation by Argentina during the Falklands war (the Falkland Islands themselves are 1000km to the west). One famous visitor is Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, who used the islands as a staging post for his 1914 expedition south. He is in fact buried in the small settlement of Grytviken.

While Argentina maintains a formal claim to the islands (much like the Falklands), the British military presence came to an end in March 2001. Today, the King Edward Point station houses a permanent group of scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird Island.

Get in

These islands are one of the most remote places in the world, with the only access being by sea. The southern ocean is one of the roughest in the world with storms that can make even the most hardened sailor feel ill.

Get around

Only competent mountaineers need try and travel overland, because of the glaciers. The best way to get around is by boat. If you have time come by yacht - specialist charterers operate out of Ushuaia and the Falkands. If time is tight come on a cruise ship. There are around 40 visits a year between November and March. In winter the snow is down to sea level and cross-country skis, or snowshoes, are the way to get about. In summer you can walk normally, at least down near the coast.

Talk

Should you find anyone to talk to, the language most commonly used is English. More than likely, however, your only companions will be those who come with you, so you can feel free to converse in any language you choose.

Buy

There is a small gift shop at Grytviken which will accept Falkland pounds, British pounds, American dollars, Euros. Most large ships visiting the islands will sell basic supplies (razors, shampoo, hats, snacks), but otherwise it is unlikely you will have any use for whatever money you bring with you.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Anyone wishing to sleep ashore overnight must have their proposal vetted by the Government's Expeditions Advisory Panel. This process will cost you a thousand pounds per expedition. As a result, nearly all visitors to the islands sleep aboard ship at night.

Camping may be permitted in the Grytviken area without going through the expensive (£1,000 GBP) expedition application vetting process. But you will have to have transport, medical backup etc arranged.

Learn

Work

Stay safe

Stay healthy

Respect

Respect wildlife. It lives here, we don't. Breeding animals in particular are prone to disturbance.

Contact

During the summer mail may be left in Grytviken, and it is picked up whenever either a supply ship or a fishery patrol ship arrives - usually around once a month. The only other option for contacting the outside world is with a satellite phone, which most boats will make available at a charge of between $2 and $5 per minute.

There is no public Internet, phone, email access available on shore.

External links

• South Georgia Island Official Site
• Explore the cemeteries of South Georgia and find out who is buried here and see a picture of th egrave, with details.

This article is still a stub and needs your attention. Plunge forward and help it grow!