1996 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1996 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Description
the flag of the UK is used
Location
54 30 S, 37 00 W -- Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America Flag ----
Geography
Area
- comparative area
- slightly larger than Rhode Island
- land area
- 4,066 sq km
- note
- includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
- total area
- 4,066 sq km
Climate
variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Coastline
NA km
Environment
- current issues
- NA
- international agreements
- NA
- 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
Geographic coordinates
54 30 S, 37 00 W
Geographic 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
International disputes
administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- forest and woodland
- 0%
- meadows and pastures
- 0%
- other
- 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
- permanent crops
- 0%
Location
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America
Map references
Antarctic Region
Maritime claims
- exclusive fishing zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 nm
Natural resources
fish
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
- highest point
- Mount Paget 2,915 m
- lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m
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
Constitution
3 October 1985
Data code
SX
Executive branch
- chief of state
- Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Commissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
Flag
the flag of the UK is used
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
none
Legal system
English common law
Legislative branch
no elections
Name of country
- conventional long form
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- conventional short form
- none
National holiday
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Type of government
dependent territory of the UK
Economy
Budget
- expenditures
- $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
- revenues
- $291,777
Economic 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.
Electricity
- capacity
- 900 kW
- consumption per capita
- NA kWh (1992)
- production
- 2 million kWh
Communications
Defense note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
NA
Telephone system
- domestic
- NA
- international
- coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Telephones
NA
Televisions
NA Defense
Transportation
Airports
none
Highways
- paved
- NA km
- total
- NA km
- unpaved
- NA km
Ports
Grytviken