South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, an Antarctic Oasis

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, an Antarctic Oasis

https://www.miragenews.com/new-south-sandwich-islands-research-801268/

South Georgia is a barren island covered with mountains and snow, 1,300 km (800 mi) from the Falkland Islands. Together with the South Sandwich Islands, it forms the British overseas territory. The island's area is 3,756 km² (1,450 sq mi), and its highest peak rises to 2,934 m (9,625 ft). The climate on South Georgia is Antarctic, so snow covers almost two-thirds of the island. Animal life includes penguins and seals, along with introduced reindeer. Marine life is represented by whales, icefish, krill, etc. South Georgia is primarily uninhabited, except for some scientists visiting British Antarctic Survey stations on King Edward Point and Bird Island.

The South Sandwich Islands are a group of eleven islets with active volcanic activity, 760 km (470 mi) from South Georgia. Their entire area is 310 km² (120 sq mi), and the surface is mainly covered with glaciers. In 2012, the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands established the Marine Protected Area, comprising 1,07 mln km² (410,000 sq mi).

Tourism is developing on South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands nowadays, with cruise ships passing the islands either from the Falkland Islands or to the Antarctic Peninsula. Why would those tourists go that far from civilisation? The answer is - to experience one of the most remote and wildest places on Earth, a true Antarctic oasis.