South Georgia Island. Antarctica: South Georgia Island
We can say with full confidence that few of you have been to the island of South Georgia and there is nothing to be ashamed of, but absolutely everyone should know about it!
After reading this material, you will surely burn with a desire to visit this wonderful place, but getting to it is not at all easy. The fact is that planes do not fly to South Georgia, and ships do not sail, and there are no fishing boats here. Well, the distance from the nearest mainland is estimated at two thousand kilometers, so swimming is also not an option!
On the big island 174 kilometers long, which was formed subsequently by volcanic activity, is inhabited by only a few people. The first is the representative of Great Britain, to which the island belongs, the second is the postmaster and two caretakers. Why are they there, you ask? We answer, in fact, you can get to the island, but only through the mediation of expeditionary ships. The nearest port from which ships depart is located in the very south of Argentina and bears the name of Uguaya.
First of all, the island attracts tourists with its virgin nature. More than 80% of the planet's albatrosses and 30 species of other birds nest on South Georgia alone, and in total the island has sheltered more than 60,000,000 seabirds! Great amount penguins, about 2,000,000 seals, 300,000 elephant seals and other representatives of the marine fauna. Everything is under the close control of the UK, any attempt to hunt or capture is punishable by imprisonment.
There are also old fishing bases on the island, which were founded in the 18th century. In addition, South Georgia can offer its few tourists a visit to a small museum, and the Norwegian Church. But that's not all, there are several military barracks on the island that have remained since the Falklands War! By the way, each tourist undergoes a compulsory insurance procedure in the amount of 100,000 euros, although the time spent on the island rarely exceeds several hours.
Map of South Georgia Island with Cooper, Byrd and Annenkov Islands.
South Georgia is an island located in the subantarctic belt of the southern part Atlantic Ocean, is included in the archipelago of the same name along with the islands of Bird, Cooper and Annenkov, as well as other smaller islets, reefs and rocks. Washed by the waters of the South Atlantic, and on southwest coast- Scotia Sea.
The island, like other islands of the archipelago, is part of the British possession of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, these territories are subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Story.
It is generally accepted that the island was discovered in 1675 under rather random circumstances. The ship of a merchant from London, Anthony de la Rocha, was heading from Chile to Brazil, while passing Cape Horn, it fell into a storm at the southern entrance to the Lemaire Strait and was carried to the east, with their luck, the sailors of de la Rocha discovered an island with a convenient bay, where they took refuge from the storm, staying here for two weeks in April. On the maps, the island was designated as Rocher in honor of the discoverer.
The island was discovered for the second time in 1756 from the Spanish ship Leon. The Spaniards named it San Pedro.
James Cook, during his second southern expedition on the frigates Resolution and Adventure, became the first to survey and map the island, which he immediately named after his monarch - "George Island".
Also on January 20, 1775, Cook discovered Annenkov Island, which was first named Pickersgil Island in honor of the lieutenant of the ship HMS Resolution. The current name of the island was given in 1819 by the expedition of F.F. Bellingshausen, who named it after one of the officers on the expedition, Mikhail Annenkov.
Around the same time, Bird and Cooper Islands, as well as Clerk Rocks, were discovered and mapped.
In the 20th century, South Georgia became a major center for whaling, and a number of coastal bases were founded in Grytviken, Lit Harbor, Ocean Harbor, Husvik, Stromnes and Prince Olave Harbor.
Around this period, Carl Anton Larsen founded the village of Grytviken, the current administrative center of the island. The heyday of the whaling era contributed to the development of the township and other settlements on the island until 1965.
The bay and the village of Grytviken.
Since 1955, territorial claims to the island by Argentina began, repeated litigation on this issue did not produce results and led to an escalation of the confrontation between Great Britain and Argentina.
In 1982, at the beginning of the Falklands conflict, Argentine troops landed on the island and occupied Grytviken and Leith Harbour. On April 3, 1982, after a short battle, during which the Argentines lost a helicopter and the Argentine corvette Guerico received damage, the garrison of British soldiers surrendered. In the course of subsequent hostilities to return the island to its possession, on April 25, 1982, the British fleet captured the damaged Argentine submarine Santa Fe off South Georgia, and the attacked Argentine garrison capitulated.
After the Falklands conflict, the UK maintained a small garrison at Grytviken until March 2001, after which the island returned to civilian rule.
Origin and geography of the archipelago .
Geographical coordinates of South Georgia Island: 54°19′00″ S. sh. 36°41′00″ W d.
The total area of the island is 3528 square kilometers.
South Georgia Island has a pronounced volcanic origin, together with the islands of the South Sandwich Archipelago, it is part of the South Antilles ridge.
highest point islands - Mount Paget with a total height of 2934 meters above sea level.
The relief of the island is mountainous, there are a lot of glaciers, the coast is heavily indented by fiords, small bays and bays.
Annenkov Island is 13 kilometers southwest of South Georgia, has geographical coordinates 54°29′00″ S sh. 37°05′00″ W e. The terrain is similar to that of South Georgia. The highest point of the island is Olstad Peak, 650 meters above sea level.
The smaller islands of the Bird and Cooper archipelago are also mountainous and are more like rocks covered with glaciers than full-bodied islands.
Drygalsky Fjord on South Georgia Island.
Climate.
The climate on the island of South Georgia and other islands of the archipelago is subarctic. Average monthly temperature in winter (July-August) - from - 2 °C, in summer (January-February) approximately + 5-6 °C Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year in the form of fine drizzle and snow. Their volume is approximately 1400-1500 millimeters per year. Constant strong winds contribute to almost constant storms in these places, the weather all year round overcast with low clouds.
Population.
severe climatic conditions the islands have led to the fact that it has no permanent residents. They are mainly fishermen, meteorologists, and Antarctic researchers. Their number constantly fluctuates depending on the season, but does not exceed 100 people. The population is concentrated mainly on the northern coast of the island and scattered among small villages and weather stations.
The administrative center of the South Georgia archipelago is the village of Grytviken, the population of which does not exceed 30 people. Other villages: King Edward Point, Bird Island, Huswick and King Edward Point also do not abound in population.
Annenkov, Bird and Cooper Islands are uninhabited.
Flora and fauna.
The climate has led to the fact that the island is covered with sparse tundra and oceanic meadows, in the mountains of the central part of the island and on the coast there are eternal glaciers. Vegetation, as such, is practically absent, but there are quite a large number of species of mosses and lichens, which form the basis of the flora of the island.
The fauna is more richly represented: on the shores of the island there are huge rookeries of seals and fur seals, the shores are inhabited by birds, among which several species of penguins predominate.
Annenkov Island is the most unique nesting site on Earth for more than 700 pairs of wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans), taken under the protection of UNESCO.
Tourism.
From the point of view of tourism, the island attracts the attention of only lovers of extreme recreation. You can get to the island from the continent either by helicopter (in Grytviken there is Helipad), or on a specially equipped vessel designed to sail in these harsh waters.
Although there is something to see here. Among the local attractions is the grave of the famous British Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton and his associate Frank Wild. Tourists should also visit the South Georgia Museum, which contains the history of the island at all stages. A unique sight is the huge rookeries of marine animals and places of mass nesting of birds.
The main tour operators who organize tourist trips British companies continue to visit South Georgia Island and adjacent territories. In other countries, due attention is not paid to this issue, unfortunately.
Grytviken 08:31 2°C
cloudy
Country population 30 people Territory 4066 km² Located on the continent -- Capital Grytviken Money pound sterling Domain zone.gs Telephone code countries --
Hotels
There are no hotels here. Because of the separation from the whole world, it’s just not possible to come here. As a rule, rare tourist groups spend the night on a cruise ship.
The climate of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is: Variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year with periods of calm. Almost all precipitation falls in the form of snow.
Attractions
Untouched nature is the main attraction. A large colony of king penguins, seals and even whales are the main inhabitants of the animal world. Vegetable world very poor: there are no trees, only grasses, ferns and lichens.
Topography of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands: Most of the islands rise sharply from the sea. Largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains, the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes.
Museums
Surprisingly, there are few traces of civilization left on the islands, but there is a museum. The South Georgia Museum is located in Grytviken. The modest collection tells about the history of whaling, the discovery of the archipelago and nearby islands.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has resources like: : Fish.
Transport
The only real way to get to the archipelago is by sea. This is the most remote place in the whole world.
Standard of living
South Georgia and nearby islands are British overseas possessions. There has never been an indigenous population on the islands, who discovered the first archipelago is still unknown. There is no permanent population here, only British officials, scientists, members of various expeditions and their staff come here from time to time. In the last and the century before last, the islands were the base of hunters and whalers. Fishing is carried out here for several months of the year.
Cities
The city of Grytviken is the administrative center of South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands. This is the most southern capital in the world. The city was founded at the beginning of the last century as a whaling base. Currently, it is abandoned, the created infrastructure has fallen into disrepair. The remains of the city 0 more entertainment for rare tourists visiting the archipelago as part of a trip to Antarctica.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are located in the South Atlantic and belong to Great Britain. This island territory, in addition to South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, includes black rock, as well as the rocks Klerk and Shag.
Peculiarities
These not too hospitable cold lands serve exclusively for scientific purposes and scientific research groups come here every summer to carry out work on the study of this part of the Antarctic region. With the exception of the village of Gryutikven, there are no permanent residential buildings here, except for specially equipped camps used as temporary shelter by members of scientific expeditions. The slopes of the mountains here are always covered with an impressive layer of snow, and numerous flocks of king penguins invariably act as local residents.
As such, tourism infrastructure there are no shops, restaurants and other tourist attributes here, except for a couple of shops selling souvenirs for a few tourists and essential goods that are in demand among employees of scientific research companies. Moreover, there are no public first aid stations on the territory of the islands either, so when traveling through the wild expanses of the British Antarctic possessions, you should be especially careful and have everything you need with you.
general information
The total area of South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands is just over 4,000 square meters. km. The population is approximately 20-50 people, depending on the season. The spoken language is English. The local currency is the British Pound Sterling and the Euro. Time zone UTC-2. Local time is 5 hours behind Moscow time. The official website of South Georgia is www.sgisland.gs.
A brief excursion into history
According to historical data, South Georgia became the first Antarctic territory discovered by people on the way to the mainland. The English merchant and navigator Anthony de la Roche discovered these lands in the spring of 1675, when he accidentally lost his course, following the coast of Brazil. Subsequently, Spanish and Portuguese travelers visited here, and the legendary naval sailor and discoverer James Cook became the first to map the island and gave it a name in honor of the British monarch - George III. He also explored the South Sandwich Islands, after which they were named after the First Lord of the British Admiralty.
Climate
On the island territory of the South Atlantic, a subantarctic climate reigns with a large number of cloudy days and an average air temperature of -1 to +5 degrees. Throughout the year, strong western winds blow, accompanied by heavy snowfall. The coldest time period falls on the period from July to August, when the temperature fluctuates steadily below 0 degrees.
Visa and customs regulations
In order to enter the territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, you must have a visa, which is issued at the British Embassy. All rules and requirements regarding its acquisition comply with English laws, as well as customs nuances.
How to get there
In recent years, the British Antarctic realms have become much closer and more accessible for tourists. In the harbor of Grytviken is sea port, which annually receives large ships, including tourist liners, sailing to the snowy shores of the South Atlantic from October to March. In general, such tours have not yet gained due popularity, and information about them should be obtained from travel agencies or shipping companies.
Transport
There is no public transport directly on the territory of the islands.
The South Sandwich Islands are a subantarctic archipelago located 570 km southeast of South Georgia and formed from several islands of volcanic origin, as well as many small islets and rocks surrounding it. largest island The archipelago is Montague, on whose territory Mount Belinda rises 1372 meters high. The South Sandwich Islands are replete with highlands and glaciers, making them a majestic kingdom of ice and snow. Mosses and lichens are common among plants. By local residents these places have long been the seals and numerous colonies of birds, including penguins. There are no permanent houses on the islands, and only in the summer season scientific research groups set up camps here.
South Georgia, together with the islands of Annenkov, Cooper and Bird, occupies 96% of the entire territory of British possession. It is covered with tundra, ocean meadows and eternal glaciers. Here is the capital of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Gryutikven, which is the southernmost settlement in the world with capital status. The village is located on east coast The Thatcher Peninsula, near King Edward Bay, and serves not only as a port, but also as the only administrative center of the country. For a long time it served as a whaling base, but then it was abandoned. Grytikven is now the home of the British Antarctic Survey, and there are several residential buildings that have been restored by the local government for tourism and other purposes. In addition, the old Norwegian church, erected in 1913, and the building of the South Georgia Museum flaunt in the village. The most beautiful landscapes surrounding the capital of the British possessions deserve special attention. To date, Gryutikven is considered the only object in Antarctica that can claim the title tourist center continent. In addition to it, the region has settlements: King Edward Point, Huswick and Bird Isle, but they do not have a permanent population. Among the most scenic spots Strömness Bay and the Drygalski Fjord stand out.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are a great place to admire the unearthly beauty of the harsh Antarctic region. These lands have unusual reliefs and amazing landscapes that make even seasoned travelers admire them.
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brief information
Most tourists come to South Georgia, mainly on cruise ships and tourist yachts. However, some tourists purposefully seek to come to this island, which can be considered the personification of the unbridled nature of Antarctica. For modern traveler For the adventure seeker, a visit to South Georgia will be an unforgettable experience. There is Mountain peaks, glaciers, beautiful fjords, albatross and king penguin colonies, as well as various historical sites showing how polar explorers and whale hunters used to live.
Geography of South Georgia
South Georgia is a UK overseas island territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. South Georgia Island is 167.4 kilometers long and 1.4 to 37 kilometers wide. The total area, including the adjacent islands, is 3,756 sq. km.
The island of South Georgia is of volcanic origin, it is covered with rocks, mountains, tundra and oceanic meadows. The highest local peak is Mount Paget, whose height reaches 2,934 meters. In general, on this island, the height of 11 peaks exceeds 2,000 meters.
Near South Georgia there are many smaller islands - Annenkov Island, Bird Island, Velkom Island, Grass Island, Cooper Island, Pickersgil Island, Trinity Island and Willis Island. All these islands together make up the South Georgia archipelago.
Even in mid-summer (January), 75% of South Georgia Island is covered in snow and glaciers.
Official language
The only official language is English.
Climate and weather
The climate is subantarctic, cold, windy, and very changeable. The average daily maximum air temperature at sea level is about 0C in winter (August) and +8C in summer (January). in winter average temperature air is -5C, and rarely falls below -10C. The warmest month is February, when the average air temperature reaches +6C. The average annual rainfall is 1500 mm.
The best time to visit South Georgia is from October to February.
Culture of South Georgia
The permanent population of South Georgia is over 20 people. Most of them are British citizens. Therefore, it is clear that it is simply impossible to talk about some kind of original culture of the inhabitants of this island, although there are several interesting monuments history and culture.
Kitchen
The staple food of the few residents of South Georgia is fish. In the surrounding waters, icefish (common white-blooded pike), Patagonian toothfish, cod, and Antarctic krill (crustaceans) are caught. Fishing takes place only a few months a year, yet it generates millions of dollars in profits for the companies involved in this activity.
Attractions
There are practically no sights in the usual sense of the word on the island of South Georgia. However, the government of South Georgia is taking a number of measures to attract tourists. So, the whaling base in Grytviken was recently restored (the grave of the famous polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is located on its territory), the port pier was also repaired and several old whaling ships were raised from the bottom of the sea.
In Grytviken, by the way, there is also the South Georgia Museum, opened in 1992. Its exposition tells about the history of Antarctic exploration, about whaling, and also about the 1982 Falklands War between Great Britain and Argentina.
A certain interest in Grytviken can be caused by the Norwegian Church built in 1913.
But the main attractions that attract tourists to South Georgia are fjords, glaciers, mountains, bird colonies (albatrosses), king penguins, seals, elephant seals, as well as a large number of reindeer brought there at the beginning of the 20th century.
Cities and resorts
About 30 people live permanently in South Georgia. In summer, the population of the island increases. In addition, there are seasonal and year-round weather stations. All permanent residents of this island live only in the village of Grytviken.
Tourists come to South Georgia mainly on cruise ships and tourist yachts. Sometimes lovers come there extreme entertainment who want to see the real Antarctica.
The Atlantic Ocean, which washes South Georgia, remains cold all year round. Coastal waters do not freeze in winter, although thin ice can form in sheltered bays. Icebergs can often be seen in coastal waters.
Currency
The pound sterling (GBP) is the official currency in South Georgia.
Visa
To visit South Georgia, Ukrainians need to obtain a visa (it is issued by the British embassy or consulates).
Time
Behind Kyiv for 5 hours. Those. if, for example, in Kyiv 13:00, then in Grytviken - 08:00.
Souvenirs/Shopping
As souvenirs, stamps, postcards with local landscapes, warm clothes, sweaters, hats, etc. are brought from South Georgia.
