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  1. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
    South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsBritish Overseas Territory
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  2. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is a British Overseas Territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands known as the South Sandwich Islands. South Georgia is 165 kilometres (103 mi) long and 35 kilometres (22 mi) wide and is by far the large… See more

    History

    The island of South Georgia was first sighted and visited in April 1675 by Anthony de la Roché, a London merchant and … See more

    Languages

    The sole official language of the territory is English, which is widely spoken amongst residents currently and used for nearly all administrative functions in the territory. Although English is used in the majority of governmen… See more

    The Frozen History of a Remote British Territory
    The Frozen History of a Remote British Territory
    South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. But how did they become part of the UK?
    Map of Rhode Island South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
    Geography

    South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are a collection of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. Most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous. At higher elevations, the islands are … See more

    Climate

    The climate is classified as polar, and the weather is highly variable and harsh, making a tundra (ET) in Köppen climate classification. Typical daily maximum temperatures in South Georgia at sea level are around … See more

    Government

    Executive power is vested in the monarch of the United Kingdom and is exercised by the Commissioner, a post held by the Governor of the Falkland Islands. The current Commissioner is Alison Blake, who took the post on 1 J… See more

    Economy

    Commercial sealing occurred on the islands between 1817 and 1909. During that period 20 visits are recorded by sealing vessels.
    Economic activity in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is limited. The territory ha… See more

    Ecology

    The parts of the islands that are not permanently covered in snow or ice are part of the Scotia Sea Islands tundra ecoregion. In total there are 26 known species of vascular plant native to South Georgia; si… See more