South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
As a steady and stable territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands balances many priorities. It occupies a middle ground that many overlook. Explore the balanced data behind South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a country in South America and an area of 3,903 km².
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Highest Elevation
2.9KHighest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Lowest Elevation
0Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Land Boundaries Length
0Total land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Irrigated Land
0Irrigated land area from CIA World Factbook.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌍Highest Elevation
2.9KHighest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
🌍Lowest Elevation
0Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
🌍Land Boundaries Length
0Total land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #188 in irrigated land
Irrigated Land: 0
Irrigated land area from CIA World Factbook.
Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowAbout South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands lie approximately 1,000 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, which was 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 extended the exclusive fishing zone in 1993, from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.
- Location
- Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America
- 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 are rugged and mountainous rising steeply from the sea; South Georgia is largely barren with steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes
- Natural Resources
- fish
- 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
- Size Comparison
- slightly larger than Rhode Island
- Official Name
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Name Origin
- Captain James COOK originally named it "the Isle of Georgia" in 1775 in honor of British King GEORGE III; the word "South" was later added to distinguish these islands from the other Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands
Deep Dive
4 of 4 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Falkland Islands
Uruguay
Argentina
ChileCompare South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands with...
Bolivia
Brazil
EcuadorShare a Fact
Share something surprising about South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands!
Highest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is located in South America. It has an area of 3,903 km².
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ranks particularly high in Highest Elevation (#73), Lowest Elevation (#96), Land Boundaries Length (#189).
Think you know South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands?
Compare countries, guess statistics, and prove you know your stuff.