CIA World Factbook-1998
SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean,
east of the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 4,066 sq km
land: 4,066 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: NA km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests 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 (1993)
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
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-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
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:People
Population: no indigenous population
note: 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
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none
Data code: SX
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by
Argentina; administered from London by a civil commissioner who is
also the governor of the Falkland Islands; Grytviken on South Georgia
is the garrison town
National capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison
town
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the
UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of
the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description: the flag of the UK is used
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:Economy
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 UK.
Budget:
revenues: $291,777
expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988
est.)
Communications
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: Grytviken
Airports: none
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Argentina
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