| South Georgia, island
in the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (a dependency of Great
Britain), South Atlantic Ocean. The island, almost perpetually icebound,
is southeast of the Falkland Islands, of which it was a dependency until
1985; it also is claimed by Argentina. Grytviken is the only village. The
small civilian population is made up of scientists. Large numbers of seals
live here, and South Georgia formerly was an important whaling base. The
island was briefly held by Argentine forces in 1982. Area, about 3755 sq
km (about 1450 sq mi). |