South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Antarctica - Travel

Whaling was the next industry to come to South Georgia when a whaling station was established in what was to become called Grytviken in King Edward Cove in 1904.

From then until the mid 1960's South Georgia was one of the most important places in the world for the whaling industry. Whaling stations were established in seven harbours on the island and thirteen floating factory ships were also used during this time. The whaling stations were abandoned in 1965 and never reopened. They now stand as derelict reminders to the inglorious past. In recent years many of the buildings have collapsed or become damaged to such an extent that they are now closed to all visitors.

Grytviken is the one place on South Georgia still occupied today by the scientists and crew of the British Antarctic Survey. The name Grytviken means 'Pot Cove' after the sealers trypots (used for recovering the blubber from seals) which were discovered there. It is the best harbour on the island, being a bay within a bay.

South Georgia has strong historical links to the early days of Antarctic exploration. It was visited by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his ship at the start of his attempt to be the first expedition to cross the Antarctic continent from coast to coast. It was also the place where he and four other crew members arrived a year and a half after their ship had been sunk in the Antarctic pack ice in an attempt to rescue the remainder of the crew, left on Elephant Island while Shackleton and his party went for help.

Some tour operators offer the chance to follow in Shackleton's footsteps to trek across South Georgia from King Haakon Bay to Stromness over the towering peaks of the islands back-bone, though with rather better modern resources!

Grytviken is today the home of a museum to the history of the island and is also the final resting place of Shackleton who died here onboard his ship Quest in King Edward Cove on January 5 1922 en-route to Antarctica. The grave is an often visited site for many passing ships.

Grytviken South Georgia March 4, 2008 Gigapan picture used courtesy of Ella Derbyshire

As well as its fascinating history, and stunning scenery, South Georgia has some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on earth.

Despite the historical massacre of numbers, more than 2 million southern fur seals - 95 percent of the world's population arrive at South Georgia each summer. Half the world's population of southern elephant seals also come here to breed.

Six penguin species can be found on South Georgia, Macaronis, regal and impressive Kings, cheeky Gentoos and relatively rare (here at least) Adelie, Chinstraps and Rockhoppers. The penguins that live on the island number in the millions, sometimes totally covering entire hillsides.

250 000 albatrosses of a variety of species return here each year, including the bird that has the largest wingspan of all at 3m+, the spectacular wandering albatross.

An estimated 10 million other seabirds such as various petrels and prions that nest underground are are nocturnal in habit to avoid predators.

Two native species only found on South Georgia are the South Georgia pipit, the only songbird in Antarctica, and the South Georgia pintail, the world's only known carnivorous duck.

A chain of islands, connected by a low submarine ledge, forming an island arc. They were discovered by Captain James Cook, in HMS Resolution, who first sighted the southernmost island later called Southern Thule on the 30th of January 1775. From North to South, the islands are:

Other islands in the South Sandwich Group:

• Leskov Island: The smallest of the group, a flat summit and precipitous on all sides.

• Visokoi Island: Another single volcanic cone.

• Candlemass Island and Vindication Island: These two lie about two miles apart and are separated by the Nelson Channel. Candlemass has two peaks, Mount Andromeda and Mount Perseus, there is also a volcanic cone, known as Lucifer Hill.

• Saunders Island: Roughly crescent shaped. In the middle of the island there is Mount Michael, a glaciated but active volcanic cone.

• Bristol Island: First sighted by James Cook and is separated by the Forster Passage from;

• Bellingshausen, Southern Thule and Cook Islands: These form the most southerly of the group.
  

If you pass by the South Sandwich Islands then make sure you remember the event
- if only to win a game of one-up-manship one day!

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2013/14 Itinerary Antarctic Peninsula, Falklands, South Georgia cruises Peninsula Cruise 10 days from $4,595 Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula Remote region kayaking option Air-Cruise Fly over the Drake Passage then join your ship in Antarctica. Fly both ways or fly one - sail one options Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands 22 days from $15,980 Antarctic Peninsula Fly / sail 10 days, active adventure, camping, kayaking Antarctica Cruise 14 days, Luxury Accommodation kayaking Antarctica Cruise - The Peninsula Active Adventure - kayaking, camping Classic Antarctica Fly cruise with Antarctic Circle crossing 9 days from $12,695 Antarctic Peninsula Luxury Ship 13 days from £13,750 Across the Circle Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic Circle, Historic Areas - kayaking, camping 14 days from $5,499 Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula, Penguins, Seals, Whales, Historic sites 10 days from $7,876 Cruises in Eastern Antarctica - Ross Sea Region Ross Sea in the Wake of Scott and Shackleton Ross Ice Shelf, McMurdo Sound 29 days from $18,700 Antarctica Peninsula to the Ross Sea Wildlife and History rarely travelled itinerary 31 days from $24,163 Galapagos cruises Recommended Reading Lonely Planet travel guide Antarctica USA | UK Free world delivery Antarctica Cruising Guide USA | UK Free world delivery

Antarctic Oasis
After 25 years of cruising the world's oceans, Pauline and Tim Carr spent five years as the only civilian inhabitants of South Georgia.
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