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  1. Polar Expeditions
  2. Falklands South Georgia and Antarctica

South Georgia

South Georgia is a very remote inhospitable collection of islands in the Southern Ocean, about 750 nautical miles east of the Falkland Islands, and over 800 miles from the Antarctic Peninsula. The main island is very mountainous, about 104 miles long, covered with snow and many glaciers, located around 55 degrees south latitude. The scenery is spectacular, as is the quantity of wildlife. The largest King Penguin colony in the world is at St. Andrews Bay, and many beaches are also occupied by Antarctic Fur Seals and Elephant Seals, which have made a recovery from their near-extinction by sealers in the 19th century. Whaling in the 20th century also plays a significant role in the history of the island, with the Norwegians having established major shore-based whaling stations at Stromness, Grytviken, and several other locations. Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated Antarctic expedition of 1914-1917 passed through here on the way to Antarctica and he returned about 18 months later after a heroic 800 mile sail in a small lifeboat to initiate a rescue mission for 22 of his crew stranded back on Elephant Island near the Antarctic Peninsula after their ship, the Endurance, had been crushed in ice and sank. The rescue mission was successful, and Shackleton returned to Grytviken in 1922 leading another expedition, but he died on board his ship in the harbor and is now buried at Grytviken. Today, a British Antarctic Survey team and a few support staff and museum officials live at Grytviken, with a total population of around 30 people.

We enjoyed many specatacular landings on South Georgia, including many close encounters with the gigantic penguin colonies, and some interesting wary encounters with Fur Seals and Elephant Seals!
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  • Map of South Georgia showing landing sites

    Map of South Georgia showing landing sites

  • Shag Rocks, approaching South Georgia

    Shag Rocks, approaching South Georgia

  • Shag Rocks, approaching South Georgia

    Shag Rocks, approaching South Georgia

  • Blue-eyed Shag flying near Shag Rocks

    Blue-eyed Shag flying near Shag Rocks

  • Leaving Shag Rocks Astern

    Leaving Shag Rocks Astern

  • Zodiac cruise to observe fur seals and penguins on beach at Elsehul, South Georgia

    Zodiac cruise to observe fur seals and penguins on beach at Elsehul, South Georgia

  • King Penguins and Antarctic Fure Seals on beach at Elsehul, South Georgia

    King Penguins and Antarctic Fure Seals on beach at Elsehul, South Georgia

  • Antarctic Fur seals and Elephant Seals on the beach, Elsehul, South Georgia

    Antarctic Fur seals and Elephant Seals on the beach, Elsehul, South Georgia

  • Antarctic Fur Seals with leucistic pup, Elsehul, South Georgia

    Antarctic Fur Seals with leucistic pup, Elsehul, South Georgia

  • Antarctic Fur Seals with normal pup, Elsehul, South Georgia

    Antarctic Fur Seals with normal pup, Elsehul, South Georgia

  • Antarctic Fur Seal Pup looking lost, South Georgia

    Antarctic Fur Seal Pup looking lost, South Georgia

  • Antarctic Fur Seal Pup crying for mum, South Georgia

    Antarctic Fur Seal Pup crying for mum, South Georgia

  • Gentoo Penguins, Elsehul, South Georgia

    Gentoo Penguins, Elsehul, South Georgia

  • Macaroni Penguins, Elsehul, South Georgia

    Macaroni Penguins, Elsehul, South Georgia

  • Macaroni Penguins, Elsehul, South Georgia

    Macaroni Penguins, Elsehul, South Georgia

  • Panorama of east side of South Georgia between Elsehul and Salisbury Plain

    Panorama of east side of South Georgia between Elsehul and Salisbury Plain

  • Cruising along the east coast of South Georgia

    Cruising along the east coast of South Georgia

  • Off the coast of Salisbury Plain, South Georgia (2nd largest King Penguin colony)

    Off the coast of Salisbury Plain, South Georgia (2nd largest King Penguin colony)

  • Second largest King Penguin Colony, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

    Second largest King Penguin Colony, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

  • King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

    King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

  • King Penguin Video, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

    King Penguin Video, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

  • King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

    King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

  • King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

    King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

  • King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

    King Penguins, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia

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    Antarctic Fur seals and Elephant Seals on the beach, Elsehul, South Georgia
    Antarctic Fur Seals with leucistic pup, Elsehul, South Georgia
    Antarctic Fur Seals with normal pup, Elsehul, South Georgia