South Georgia Island

South Georgia: 53° 50' to 55° 00'S, 35° 50' to 38° 67'W

• One main island, several small ones, many islets and rocks; outlying Clerke Rocks 74 km SE; mainly of sedimentary origin; in the Southern Ocean.
• Area: 3755 kmē.
• Highest elevation: 2934 m (Mount Paget).
• 57 % glaciated.
• Sighted 1675, first landing 1775, sealers arrived 1786.
• Permanent occupation (whaling and scientific stations, and a garrison) from 1904 (previously sealers and scientific personnel wintered). Whaling and sealing stations operated 1904-65.
• British territory, part of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands; also claimed by Argentina, part of the 'Islas del Atlantico Sur'.

The South Georgia Islands lie approximately 350 km south of the Antarctic convergence and were discovered by Captain Cook in 1775.  They served as a base for British and American sealers and whalers from 1786 until 1965. Human occupation has continued up to the present for scientific and weather observations. 

The central spine of South Georgia forms a long mountain range with a maximum elevation of 2950m.  Much of the coast is skirted by high, steep sea cliffs and numerous small rocky islands. The north side of South Georgia is punctuated with fjords, bays and glacial valleys.  Glaciers are present along with many ponds and abundant swift cascading streams.  The summer snow line ranges between 450 and 600m along the warmer north slope but is much lower elsewhere.

South Georgia's geology consists of folded metamorphosed slates, silts and graywackes with occasional thin limestones.  A few igneous intrusions occur on the south and southeast coasts.  The Clerke Rocks, a group of approximately 15 islets 75 km southeast of Cooper Island, are composed of granites.

The climate is cloudy, cold and windy with little variation throught the year.  August, the coldest month, has a mean temperature of -2°C, while February, the warmest month, has a mean temperature of 6°C.  Temperatures seldom reach above 9.5°C or below -15°C.  Precipitation also shows little seasonal variation, but is somewhat higher in winter.  On average, South Georgia receives about 1500 mm annually as summer rains and winter snows.  Permafrost is present but only proximal to glaciers and at high elevations.  Prevailing winds are from the northwest and southwest with an average velocity of 16 km/h.  Warm, moist northwest winds moving over cold ocean water bring low clouds and fog while southwest winds are often accompanied by cold weather and severe storms.