 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsDependent territory of the U.K. |
Geography 
Economy 
Defense Forces
People 
Transportation 
Government
Communications 
History 
Travel
GEOGRAPHY
Location
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America
Area
- Total area: 4,066 sq km
- Land area: 4,066 sq km
- Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Note: Includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Land Boundaries
0 km
Coastline
NA km
Maritime Claims
- Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 12 nm
International Disputes
Administered by the U.K., claimed by Argentina
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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m
Natural Resources
Land Use
- Arable land: 0%
- Permanent crops: 0%
- Meadows and pastures: 0%
- Forest and woodland: 0%
- Other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
Irrigated Land
0 sq km
Environment
- Current issues: NA
- 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
- International agreements: NA
Note: The north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia
PEOPLE
Population
No indigenous population; there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
GOVERNMENT
Names
- Conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Conventional short form: none
Digraph
SX
Type
Dependent territory of the U.K.
Capital
None; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Administrative Divisions
None (dependent territory of the U.K.)
Independence
None (dependent territory of the U.K.)
National Holiday
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution
3 October 1985
Legal System
English common law
Executive Branch
- Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Commissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
Legislative Branch
No elections
Judicial Branch
None
Flag
The flag of the U.K. is used
ECONOMY
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 U.K..
Budget
- Revenues: $291,777
- Expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of NA (1988 est.)
Electricity
- Capacity: 900 kW
- Production: 2 million kWh
- Consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
TRANSPORTATION
Highways
- Total: NA
- Paved: NA
- Unpaved: NA
Ports
Grytviken
Airports
None
COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone System
NA telephones; coastal radio station at Grytviken
- Local: NA
- Intercity: NA
- International: NA
Radio
- Broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
- Radios: NA
Television
- Broadcast stations: 0
- Televisions: NA
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.K.
History
World Atlas
Last modified: 13 october 1997
