South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia is a remote subantarctic island in the South Atlantic. It is not part of Antarctica or the U.S. state of Georgia.


The island lies about 1,400 km southeast of the Falkland Islands. It is roughly 170 km long and covers about 3,755 square kilometres.

Mountains, glaciers, fjords and rocky beaches dominate the landscape. More than half is covered permanently by snow and ice. Mount Paget, its highest mountain, reaches 2,934 metres. The climate is cold, wet and windy, with storms possible throughout the year. Many glaciers are retreating because of climate change.


Its shores support enormous colonies of king, macaroni and gentoo penguins, fur seals and elephant seals. Albatrosses, petrels, skuas and the South Georgia pipit also breed there. Whales, fish and krill live offshore.

There are no trees; vegetation consists mainly of tussock grass, mosses and lichens. Introduced rats and reindeer were eradicated, allowing native wildlife to recover.


South Georgia has no permanent population. Rotating scientists, officials and support workers live there temporarily. King Edward Point is its main government and research station. Bird Island Research Station studies seabirds and seals.

Grytviken is a former whaling settlement with a museum, church and cemetery.


Europeans recorded the island in 1675. Captain James Cook landed in 1775, claimed it for Britain and named it after King George III. Sealing began in the late 1700s and industrial whaling lasted from 1904 to the 1960s.

Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton reached South Georgia by small boat in 1916 after Antarctic ice crushed Endurance. He crossed the mountains to find help for his crew. He died in 1922 and is buried at Grytviken.

Argentine forces briefly occupied the island during the 1982 Falklands War before British forces recovered it.


South Georgia is part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Britain administers it, while Argentina also claims it.

Income comes mainly from regulated fishing and tourism. A 1.24-million-square-kilometre marine protected area surrounds the territory.


There is no airport, hotel or passenger ferry. Visitors arrive by ship or yacht, stay aboard and require permission to land. Strict biosecurity rules protect the island.

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South Georgia is famous for glaciers, exploration history and immense colonies of penguins and seals. It is one of the world's most isolated wildlife destinations.

Official South Georgia information[gov.gs]