• Whaling has been carried out in the Southern Ocean since the late 1800s and South Georgia’s close proximity to the Antarctic whaling grounds meant that it grew to be the world’s biggest centre for such activity.
• South Georgia has the world’s largest population of wandering albatrosses, 4,000 birds. The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird in the world and can fly while fast asleep and circumnavigate the globe.
• South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands have their own postcode – SIQQIZZ
• Rather surprisingly, reindeer live on South Georgia as they were successful introduced early in the 20th century.
• R.N. Rudmose Brown wrote of Shackleton: “Shackleton found in polar exploration an outlet for his restless energy, love of adventure, and zest for life. In the more orderly walks of civilisation his lack of convention, his intolerance of shams, and his impetuous candour made him less easy to satisfy. His success as an explorer lay in the boldness of his conceptions, his resourcefulness, and his good leadership.” Ernest Shackleton is buried in Grytviken, South Georgia and his monument is a simple cross on a height overlooking the waters.
• South Georgia is one of the last truly unspoiled regions of the world with its awe-inspiring scenery of low-lying grassland, deep fjords, huge glaciers and 2,000m mountains and unique wildlife. Supporting enormous numbers of penguins, seals and seabirds, South Georgia is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful places on earth.

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