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South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands lie in the South
Atlantic and are a dependency of the United Kingdom.
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About South Georgia, Grytviken, Map of Falkland Islands and South Georgia,
Peaks of Ice.
Located some 1,290 km south-east of the Falkland
Islands, the island was first visited by Captain James Cook, in 1775.
Until 1985 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, 750 km
south-east of South Georgia, were governed as dependencies of The Falklands.
The local population is made up of scientists and seals.
King Edward Point
This is where you'll land your boat, if you visit South Georgia
island.
The 1982 wreck of the Argentine landing craft 'Fenix' can be seen on
the point as can the breeding Elephant seals; whose pups are usually born in
October/November.
A cross was erected at Hope Point, in 1922; in memory of Sir Ernest
Henry Shackleton.
The only 'village' on South Georgia is Grytviken, about 1km from
the landing point.
Ernest
Shackleton arrived in South Georgia after his ship, the Endurance, hit the Antarctic
pack ice; in 1915.
The whaling station has been abandoned although there is a museum
covering the whaling history of the island.
Visitors to South Georgia can also take a look at the restored
Norwegian church and visit Shackleton's grave in the cemetery. Thorvald Amundsen is also
burried there.
The highest peak on the mountainous island is Mount Paget (2,934
m).
South Georgia is almost perpetually icebound, yet still makes some
feelings run hot in Argentina.
Argentine forces invaded in 1982; forcing the British Prime Minister
at the time, Dame Margaret
Thatcher, to assemble a naval task force to liberate the islands.
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