South Georgia Wildlife
Perhaps the most significant aspect to the island is the wildlife of South Georgia. The island is consideredto be situated inside Antarctica and is unsurpassed as a wilderness & wildlife experience with many varieties of birds and seals. The main months of wildlife activity is duringf the breeding season from October to February, when the numbers also peak.
Birds
South Georgia boasts an amazing number of seabirds such as the King, Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Magellanic, Macaroni, and Rockhopper penguins; Antarctic Giant-Petrel, Cape Petrel, the elegant Snow Petrel, Antarctic and Slender-billed prions, Wilson 's Storm-Petrel, Snowy Sheathbill, and more. The King Penguin Rookeries on South Georgia are unique in that these Penguins are on a staggered 18 month breeding cycle….the only penguin rookeries in Antarctica that are in operation all year. South Georgia is almost pure wildlife from one end to the other. Seven Species of Albatross have also been recorded although only four are regular breeders.
Travel map of South Georgia including the South Sandwich Islands
Featuring:
- Illustrated biographies of explorers and other notable people
- Historical time line
- Colour Photos and text on the wildlife
- Details of many visitor sites
- General information about the islands more >>
The Land
Much of South Georgia's Glaciers are covered in snow all year round and its climate is cold due to The Antarctic Convergence Zone, a phenmomenon caused by cold water from Antarctica that flows outward from the continent to a point where it dives down to the abys depths of the ocean. The place where this cold water ends and the warm water begins forms a ring around the continent and is called the Antarctic Convergence.
Marine Environment
The Sea's around South Georgia are inhabited by animals and plants that have adapted to living in the cold waters. Some bays and inlets of South Georgia freeze during winter and the pack ice that surrounds the Antarctic continent occasionally extends north to South Georgia.
The Southern Ocean ecosystem is characterised by just a few species but many varieties of each. The “demersal” or bottom feeding fish include the remarkable ice fish. This particular fish has no haemoglobin in its blood, which gives it a ghostly white appearance. There are also large numbers of Arctic Cod, some of which, such as the Pategonian Toothfish, can grow up to six feet (2m) in length.
Due to the vast quantaties of Krill around South Georgia many Whales migrate here during the summer months to feast, Southern Right whales, Humpback and Minky whales are most often spotted. Smaller cetaceans such as the Orca or Killer Whale as well as Pilot and Bottlenose Dolphins are also spotted.
