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South America and South Atlantic Islands
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (British Overseas Territory) |
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Last reviewed: 6 September 2007 |
Country information
GEOGRAPHY
South Georgia is an isolated, mountainous sub-Antarctic island about 1390km south east of the Falkland Islands and about 2,150km east of Tierra del Fuego. Surrounded by cold waters originating from the Antarctic, South Georgia has a harsher climate than expected from its latitude. More than 50% of the island is covered by permanent ice with many large glaciers reaching the sea at the head of fjords. The main mountain range, the Allardyce Range, has its highest point at Mount Paget (2960m). The South Sandwich Islands consist of a chain of 11 volcanic islands some 350km long. Some of these islands are still active. The climate is wholly Antarctic. In the late winter the Islands may be surrounded by pack ice.
