South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Climate

variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

Environment - current issues

reindeer - introduced to the islands in the 20th century - devastated the native flora and bird species; some reindeer were translocated to the Falkland Islands in 2001, the rest were exterminated (2013-14); a parallel effort (2010-15) eradicated rats and mice that came to the islands as stowaways on ships as early as the late 18th century

Land use

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Area

total: 3,903 sq km land: 3,903 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of 11 islands

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate

variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

Coastline

NA

Elevation

highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

54 30 S, 37 00 W

Geography - note

the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Location

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Map references

Antarctic Region

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

most of the islands are rugged and mountainous rising steeply from the sea; South Georgia is largely barren with steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes

Country name

conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands abbreviation: SGSSI etymology: South Georgia was named "the Isle of Georgia" in 1775 by Captain James COOK in honor of British King GEORGE III; the explorer also discovered the Sandwich Islands Group that year, which he named "Sandwich Land" after John MONTAGU, the Earl of Sandwich and First Lord of the Admiralty; the word "South" was later added to distinguish these islands from the other Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing King CHARLES III

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion rampant, holding a torch; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a Macaroni penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the crest, and below the shield on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land); the lion with the torch represents the UK and discovery; the background of the shield, blue and white estoiles, are found in the coat of arms of James Cook, discoverer of the islands; all the outer supporting animals represented are native to the islands

International organization participation

UPU

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Background

The islands, with large bird and seal populations, lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration since 1908 - except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the rest of his crew, stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. Recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended the exclusive fishing zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Death rate

NA

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA

Drinking water source

improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA

Education expenditures

NA

Net migration rate

5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

(July 2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March 2001, replaced by a permanent group of scientists of the British Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited

Population growth rate

NA

Sex ratio

at birth: NA 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Disputes - international

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (UK)-Argentina : Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Grytviken