The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

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(dependent territory of the UK)

Map

Location: 54 30 S, 37 00 W -- Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

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Flag

Description: the flag of the UK is used

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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 area: 4,066 sq km
land area: 4,066 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: NA km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m
Natural resources: fish
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)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: 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
international agreements: NA
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

People

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

Name of country:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none
Data code: SX
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985
Legal system: English common law
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)
Legislative branch: no elections
Judicial branch: none
Flag: the flag of the UK is used

Economy

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.
Budget:
revenues: $291,777
expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 900 kW
production: 2 million kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

Transportation

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports: Grytviken
Airports: none

Communications

Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA

Defense

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).