1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 4,066 km2 land area: 4,066 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Climate
variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Coastline
NA km
Environment
reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism
International disputes
administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
Irrigated land
0 km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
Location
in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the south Argentine coast, southeast of the Falkland Islands
Map references
Antarctic Region
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
fish
Note
the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage
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
People and Society
Population
no indigenous population; 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
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital
none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Chief of State
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Commissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
Constitution
3 October 1985
Digraph
SX
Executive branch
British monarch, commissioner
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
none
Legal system
English common law
Legislative branch
none
Names
conventional long form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none
National holiday
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Type
dependent territory of the UK
Economy
Budget
revenues $291,777; expenditures $451,011, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)
Electricity
900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1992)
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.
Communications
Airports
total: 5 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
Highways
NA
Ports
Grytviken on South Georgia
Telecommunications
coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK