South Georgia
Join our expedition voyages to the Galapagos of the South, the wildlife paradise of South Georgia, deep in the wild Southern Ocean
Over a thousand miles from the South American mainland and a similar distance from Antarctica, the rugged peaks of South Georgia pierce the moody skies of the Southern Ocean. While several ships had sighted the island in the 1600s, legendary explorer Captain James Cook was the first to land on South Georgia, which he named for King George III.
Once a base for the whaling industry, this magnificent isle has been reclaimed by nature. Reserved for scientific research and wildlife, South Georgia is not only home to staggering natural beauty, but holds some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on the planet with huge numbers of seals, whales, seabirds, and millions of penguins. Formerly part of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) the island and its surroundings were designated as a British Overseas Territory in 1985.
Area of South Georgia
3,529km²
Population of South Georgia
30 in summer / 16 in winter
Facts about South Georgia
- Mount Paget is the highest point on South Georgia, reaching 2,934m. This makes it the highest mountain on British Territory, more than twice the height of Ben Nevis!
- Once politically part of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia has been its own British Overseas Territory since 1985. The small research station of King Edward Point next to the abandoned whaling station of Grytviken is the de facto capital. This makes it the smallest 'capital' in the world, with only around 12 people in winter. In practice, the two territories continue to be intimately linked, with all supplies and personnel passing through the Falklands en route to South Georgia. The role of Commissioner of South Georgia is held by the Governor of the Falkland Islands, based in Stanley.
- Brown rats were accidentally introduced to the island during the whaling and sealing eras; local bird life had no defense against these invaders, and many species were brought to the brink of extinction. An ambitious program using bait distributed by helicopter has since eradicated the rats - one of the most successful and ambitious habitat restorations in history!
- Sovereignty of South Georgia (known in Spanish as Isla San Pedro) is disputed between Argentina and the United Kingdom. This situation culminated in the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982, which included conflict on South Georgia itself. While the War resulted in a British victory, Argentina continues to claim the islands; the claim to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (Islas Georgias del Sur y Sandwich del Sur) is inscribed in Article 1 of the Argentine Constitution.
- Antarctica
- South Georgia
Population
South Georgia has no permanent human population. The island is primarily a haven for wildlife, and the only people you’ll find here are temporary residents working at the research stations. The main hub of human activity is at King Edward Point, where a small team of scientists and government officials work to manage and protect the island’s unique environment. There is also Grytviken, a former whaling station that now serves as a historic site and museum. The number of people on the island fluctuates, with more activity during the summer months when research and conservation projects are in full swing. While no one lives here permanently, the people who visit play a crucial role in safeguarding South Georgia’s pristine ecosystem.
History
South Georgia was first sighted by English merchant Antoine de la Roché, though it wasn’t until 1775 that Captain James Cook landed and claimed the island for Britain. By the late 18th century, British and American sealers were exploiting the island’s wildlife, nearly driving fur seals to extinction and harvesting elephant seals for oil. In the 1800s, South Georgia became a global whaling hub, with companies from various nations establishing bases. Whaling ceased in 1964 as stocks collapsed. During the 1982 Falklands War, British forces recaptured Grytviken from Argentina. Today, conservation efforts have restored much of the island’s ecosystem, with successful reindeer and rat eradication projects helping bird populations rebound. South Georgia is now self-sufficient, funding itself through fishing rights and landing permits.
Geography
South Georgia is a rugged mountainous island. Geologically, the majority of the island is comprised of deep marine rock, which was pushed up to the surface by a bend in the nearby tectonic plates, forcing rock above the sea surface. The British Overseas Territory of South Georgia also includes the South Sandwich Islands, an arc of active volcanoes to the southeast of the 'mainland'. These volcanoes exist at the convergence between two tectonic plates, and are among the most active on planet Earth, as well as playing host to some of the planet's largest penguin colonies.
While not a part of the continent of Antarctica, South Georgia lies within the Antarctic Convergence - the zone of cold water around the continent - and is therefore considered part of the Antarctic ecoregion. This keeps temperatures on the island cold throughout the year, and means around 75% of the island is glaciated.
South Georgia is one of the few bodies of land in the path of the mighty Antarctic Circumpolar Current - this brings powerful wind and storms to the island, isolating it oceanographically from the rest of the world's oceans. As this powerful current hits the island nutrient-rich waters are forced to the surface: the basis for the island's exceptionally rich ecosystem. The challenging climate of the island makes it a real achievement to reach the shore!
Invasive species have long threatened South Georgia. Introduced reindeer decimated the delicate tundra and spread non-native plants island-wide, and introduced rats almost ate endemic species such as the South Georgia Pintail and Pipit into extinction. An extensive eradication operation finally eliminated these invaders in 2018, and in just a few years, bird numbers have exploded. Pipits and pintails are now common again, and it is estimated this unique island, once almost destroyed by human negligence and over-exploitation, now holds over five million seals, and over 65 million birds - a true conservation success story!