Who owns South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands?

The United Kingdom claimed sovereignty over South Georgia in 1775 and the South Sandwich Islands in 1908. The territory of "South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands" was formed in 1985; previously, it had been governed as part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies.

What is the ccTLD for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands?

The Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is .gs. The parts of the islands that are not permanently covered in snow or ice are part of the Scotia Sea Islands tundra ecoregion.

What happened to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands?

In 1985, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ceased to be administered as a Falkland Islands Dependency and became a separate territory. The King Edward Point base, which had become a small military garrison after the Falklands War, returned to civilian use in 2001 and is now operated by the British Antarctic Survey.

Are South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands mountainous?

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 permanently covered with ice and snow.

Why is South Georgia a marine protected area?

On 23 February 2012, to protect marine biodiversity, the territory's government created the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area – comprising 1.07 million km 2 (410,000 sq mi). After the Falklands War in 1982, a full-time British military presence was maintained at King Edward Point on South Georgia.

Is South Georgia a small island?

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 largest island in the territory.