Country:  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
(dependent territory of the UK)
- Geography
Total area: 4,066 km2; land area: 4,066 km2; includes Shag and
Clerke Rocks
 
Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
 
Land boundaries: none
 
Coastline: undetermined
 
Maritime claims:
 
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
 
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
 
Territorial sea: 12 nm
 
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
 
Natural resources: fish
 
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
0% forest and woodland; 100% other; largely covered by permanent ice and snow
with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen
 
Environment: reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South
Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South
Sandwich Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism
 
Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which
provide good anchorage
 
- People
Population: no permanent 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
Long-form name: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (no
short-form name)
 
Type: dependent territory of the UK
 
Capital: Grytviken Harbour on South Georgia is the chief town
 
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
 
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
 
Constitution: 3 October 1985
 
Legal system: English common law
 
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
 
Executive branch: British monarch, commissioner
 
Legislative branch: none
 
Judicial branch: none
 
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
by Commissioner William Hugh FULLERTON (since 1988; resident at Stanley,
Falkland Islands)
 
- Economy
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 $451,011, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)
 
Electricity: 900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita
(1989)
 
- Communications
Highways: NA
 
Ports: Grytviken Harbour on South Georgia
 
Airports: none
 
Telecommunications: coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast
stations
 
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK