South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands – The isolated neighbors of the Antarctic

May 30, 2017 Tijana Radeska

South Georgia

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) are an inhospitable and remote group of islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

They were first discovered by Anthony de la Roché, a London merchant but Captain James Cook was the first one who actually landed on the island of South Georgia in 1775. South Georgia is 103 miles (165 km) long and 22 miles (35 km) wide, and it is by far the largest island in the territory. About 430 miles (700 kilometers) southeast of South Georgia lies the South Sandwich Islands.

Map by James Cook (1777, south facing upwards)

A panoramic view of South Georgia taken by Frank Hurley during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

The islands are a British overseas territory, and except for some temporary inhabitants from the British Government such as Deputy Postmaster, Officer, scientists, and members of the British Antarctic Survey who maintain scientific bases at Bird Island and King Edward Point, the capital city, there is no permanent population on the islands.

Cumberland Bay – Thatcher Peninsula with King Edward Cove (Grytviken) – the Allardyce Range at Central South Georgia, featuring the summit of Mount Paget

NASA satellite image of South Georgia Island covered with snow

Oh, and there is also some museum staff at Grytviken. In 1775 the UK claimed sovereignty over the island of South Georgia, and in 1908, over the South Sandwich Islands. And in the early 1900’s Argentina also claimed sovereignty over the islands.

The climate on the islands is classified as polar. The weather is harsh with maximum temperatures of 32 °F (0 °C ) during the summer in January, and 46.4 °F (8 °C) during the winter in August.

But still, the fauna and flora on the islands are amazing. South Georgia is the place where a lot of albatross, macaroni penguins, and king penguins live along with terns, gulls, shags, petrels, and prions.

South Georgia glacier and penguin colony. Photo credit

Southern giant petrel on South Georgia Island. Photo credit

King penguins at St Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island, 1996. Photo credit

Wandering albatross at South Georgia Island. Photo credit

A colony of 200,000 king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on Salisbury Plain. Photo credit

The islands are also a place where a lot of seals hang around, and from the shore, whales can be seen in the surrounding waters. There are also 26 species of vascular plant that are native to South Georgia. The largest plant on the island is Poa flabellata, a tussock grass which rises near the shore on steep slopes and raised beaches.

Female Elephant Seals, Prison Island, South Georgia. Photo credit

Prion Island, South Georgia. Photo credit

Fur Seal, Prion Island, South Georgia. Photo credit

Elephant Seals, Prion Island, South Georgia. Photo credit

Antarctic Pearlwort at St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia. Photo credit

And yes, tourists are welcomed on these hostile islands. As a matter of fact, a significant source of the income at the islands in recent years comes from tourism.

So if you like secluded places and something a bit different the South Sandwich Islands should be on your list of places to visit.

But the trip can’t be done by plane, only by boat. There are many sailing yachts and cruise ships that visit the island, so it shouldn’t be hard to catch a lift on one.

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