Statistics South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the World
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Introduction 1999
top of pageBackground: The islands lie approximately 1000 km east of the Falkland Islands. Grytviken on South Georgia was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. The 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 a small military garrison. The islands have large bird and seal populations and recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters the UK in 1993 extended the exclusive fishing zone from 12 miles to 200 miles around each island.
Area
Total: total:4,066 km²; land:4,066 km²; water:0 km²; note:includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
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
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
Land use: arable land:0%; permanent crops:0%; permanent pastures:0%; forests and woodland:0%; other:100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
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
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - People 1999
top of pageSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Government 1999
top of pageCountry name: conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; conventional short form: none
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)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Economy 1999
top of pageEconomy overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK.
Budget: revenues:$291,777; expenditures:$451,000, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1988 est.)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Energy 1999
top of pageSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Communication 1999
top of pageSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Military 1999
top of pageSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Transportation 1999
top of pageSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Transnational issues 1999
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