Statistical information South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 2008
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the World
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Introduction 2008
top of pageBackground: The islands which have large bird and seal populations lie approximately 1000 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.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Geography 2008
top of pageLocation: Southern South America islands in the South Atlantic Ocean east of the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S 37 00 W
Map reference: Antarctic Region
Area
Total: 3,903 km²
Land: 3,903 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of 11 islands
Comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: NA km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: variable with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Terrain: most of the islands rising steeply from the sea are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes
Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use
Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2005)
Irrigated land: 0 km²
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
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
Geography
Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays which provide good anchorage; reindeer introduced early in the 20th century live on South Georgia
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - People 2008
top of pagePopulation
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
Nationality
Ethnic groups
Languages
Religions
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
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Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: NA
Air pollutants
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Hiv/Aids
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Children under the age of 5 years underweight
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Literacy
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Youth unemployment
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Government 2008
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Conventional short form: none
Abbreviation: SGSSI
Government type
Capital
Administrative divisions
Dependent areas
Independence
National holiday
Constitution
Legal system: the laws of the UK where applicable apply; the senior magistrate from the Falkland Islands presides over the Magistrates Court
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage
Executive branch
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation
Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK also claimed by Argentina)
From 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 the 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 centered; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the shield and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)
National symbols
National anthem
National heritage
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Economy 2008
top of pageEconomy overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting finfish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK sale of fishing licenses and harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels. Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly.
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Distribution of family income gini index
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Imports
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Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Energy 2008
top of pageElectricity
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Communication 2008
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
General assessment: NA
Domestic: NA
International: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Broadcast media
Internet
Country code: .gs
Hosts: 196 (2008)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Military 2008
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Transportation 2008
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals: Grytviken
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Transnational issues 2008
top of pageDisputes international: 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
