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South Georgia

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Grytviken, South Georgia 4K

Grytviken (/ˈɡrɪtviːkən/ GRIT-vee-kən Norwegian: [ˈɡɾŷːtviːkn̩]) is a settlement on South Georgia in the South Atlantic and formerly a whaling station and the largest settlement on the island. It is located at the head of King Edward Cove within the larger Cumberland East Bay, considered the best harbour on the island. The location's name, meaning pot bay, was coined in 1902 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition and documented by the surveyor Johan Gunnar Andersson, after the expedition found old English try pots used to render seal oil at the site. Settlement was re-established on 16 November 1904 by Norwegian Antarctic explorer Carl Anton Larsen on the long-used site of former whaling settlements.

Grytviken is built on a substantial area of sheltered, flat land and has a good supply of fresh water. Although it was the largest settlement on South Georgia, the island's administration was based at the nearby British Antarctic Survey research station at King Edward Point. The whaling station closed in December 1966 when dwindling whale stocks made it uneconomical.

Grytviken no longer has permanent residents but occasionally accommodates researchers and British administrative and military personnel. It is also temporarily inhabited during summer months by a few staff who manage the South Georgia Museum. The settlement has become a popular attraction for Antarctic cruise lines, with many tourists visiting the resting places of polar explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Wild in Grytviken's graveyard.
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History and Heritage of South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands

The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Island is home to tens of millions of seabirds and marine mammals, as well as diverse plant and invertebrate communities and marine ecosystems.

Located in the sub-Antarctic, the islands of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Island are of hemispheric importance as key breeding sites for wildlife that migrates across the entire Southern Ocean.

This film explores the human history of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, from the discovery of these islands, to the establishment of whaling stations on South Georgia which exploited the rich whale populations of the Southern Ocean.

Produced by the South Georgia Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Don Hanson Charitable Foundation and the Friends of the British Overseas Territories.

For more information, please see:

Narrated by Stewart McPherson.
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SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND Travel Guide | Cruises and Everything you need to know

The ultimate travel guide to South Georgia Island, everything you need to know about the island, and what you should think about when looking for your own voyage there.

If you are thinking about a trip to Antarctica, then South Georgia should definitely be a part of that conversation.

In this video we will visit some of the key landing sites in South Georgia, we will discover what wildlife calls this magnificent Island home and what that wildlife is doing in which month, and when the best time to travel there is.

Stick around to the end when we will also talk in detail about prices, the kind of vessels and expedition teams that are sailing to South Georgia, and how best to book a voyage to this magical Island. The adventure of a lifetime.

There are some great polar specialists at Swoop Antarctica who I would recommend speaking to.


We are the Newbys, John, Tara, and our two little boys Crusoe and Sawyer. We’re a family who are pursuing an alternative lifestyle, and after two years of full time travel we’ve taken root on an abandoned farm in Northern Portugal which we’re renovating into our dream off-grid homestead. We release new videos every Sunday sharing our story, and we’d love for you to be a part of it with us. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE if you haven’t already, it’s free and super easy to do and it helps us hugely.

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Overview of South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands

The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Island is home to tens of millions of seabirds and marine mammals, as well as diverse plant and invertebrate communities and marine ecosystems.

Located in the sub-Antarctic, the islands of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Island are of hemispheric importance as key breeding sites for wildlife that migrates across the entire Southern Ocean.

This film provides an overview of the diverse wildlife, history and heritage of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Produced by the South Georgia Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Don Hanson Charitable Foundation and the Friends of the British Overseas Territories.

For more information, please see:

Narrated by Stewart McPherson.
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Grytviken Whaling Station | South Georgia & the Falklands | Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

We think of whaling as something that happened 100 or 200 years ago, but whaling activity actually reached its peak during the 1950s. This whaling station on South Georgia Island was where whales were processed for oil and other products -- dangerous, difficult work.

Video by Eric Wehrmeister aboard the National Geographic Explorer in Grytviken, South Georgia.

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Discover South Georgia

Welcome to South Georgia, a remote island at the end of the earth, with more penguins than people, and majestic mountains that tower over vast beaches. Find out more about this stunning sub-Antarctic island, and book your adventure today...


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21 Day Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands Expedition Vlog Full Overview (Part 1 of 2)

Have you ever wondered what it was like to venture to the far reaches of the earth and visit a place like Antarctica?

Well, we have done it, a few times actually, and are thrilled to share this life-changing journey to some of the world's most remote and wild places - Antarctica, and South Georgia.

We embarked on this 21-day expedition with Aurora Expeditions during the month of March.

This remarkable journey took us across vast stretches of the frozen Antarctic continent and its majestic wildlife, followed by visits to the stunning scenery and history of South Georgia, a remote island in the South Atlantic.

We've put together a full vlog that will allow you to explore the incredible nature, stunning landscapes, and rich history of this captivating region right alongside us. You can also see what it's like to take a 21-day expedition to Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands.

This is Part 1 of 2 (Antarctica)

Quick Vlog Highlights
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro - 21-Day Antarctica & South Georgia Expedition (Full Trip Overview)
0:16 - Beagle Channel - Where expeditions leave from to Antarctica
0:41 - Drake Passage - What it is like to cross the Drake Passage
1:19 - South Shetland Islands
1:49 - Antarctic Peninsula Sunset
2:04 - Cuverville Island
2:48 - Paradise Harbour
2:58 - Snorkeling in Antarctica - a top thing to do!
3:45 - Antarctica Sunset
3:55 - Lemaire Channel Sunrise
4:01 - Lemaire Channel Reflections
4:27 - Yalour Islands
5:20 - Petermann Island
6:40 - Port Lockroy - Send a postcard from Antarctica!
7:20 - Jougla Point
8:18 - Orne Harbour
9:17 - Orne Harbour - Antarctica Sunset
9:29 - Hydrurga Rocks
10:04 - Cierva Cove
10:33 - Antarctica Sunset
10:40 - South Shetland Islands

Looking for more about this expedition? Read our full overview of the 21-Day Expedition to Antarctica & South Georgia here:

If you are looking for more videos and insider stories from this amazing adventure, check out our Instagram stories:

Special thanks to Adventure Life and Aurora Expeditions for partnering with us to showcase this amazing part of the planet.

Filmed and edited by Lina Stock and David Stock Jr. - America's Adventure Couple

All rights are owned by Divergent Travel Media LLC.

Recreating Shackleton's South Georgia Trek

Legendary climbers Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay along with Jeremy Lindblad and team recreated the Shackleton Traverse across the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Video by Mark Coger.

Stromness, South Georgia 4K

Stromness is an abandoned whaling station on the northern coast of South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic. It was the destination of Sir Ernest Shackleton's rescue journey in 1916. It is the central of three harbours in the west side of Stromness Bay, South Georgia.

The name Fridtjof Nansen or Nansen appeared for this harbour on some early charts, but since about 1920, the name Stromness has been consistently used. Its name, Stromness, derives from the similarly named town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.

In 1907, a floating factory was erected in Stromness Harbour; a land station was built in 1912. From 1912 until 1931, Stromness operated as a whaling station, the first manager of which was Petter Sørlle. In 1931 it was converted into a ship repair yard with a machine shop and a foundry. It remained operational until 1961, when the site was abandoned. The Whaling Station had previously shut down when whales became endangered and laws were enacted forbidding the hunting of whales.

In 1916, Ernest Shackleton and a small crew landed on the unpopulated southern coast of South Georgia at King Haakon Bay after an arduous sea voyage from Elephant Island in the 22-foot (6.7 m) lifeboat, James Caird. Shackleton, along with Tom Crean and Frank Worsley, then trekked across South Georgia's mountainous and glaciated interior in an effort to reach help on the populated northern shore of the island.

After 36 hours of crossing the interior, they arrived at the Stromness administration centre which also was the home of the Norwegian whaling station's manager. This building has been dubbed the Villa at Stromness because it represents relative luxury compared to its surroundings. All men were rescued from Elephant Island.

In the decades following its closure, Stromness has been subject to damage from the elements and many of its buildings have been reduced to ruins. However, recent efforts have been made to restore the Villa and clean up debris from the rest of the site in order to make it safe for visitors. Outside of Stromness is a small whalers' cemetery with 14 grave markers.

Exploring South Georgia Island (Antarctica Travel Vlog Ep16)

South Georgia Island has often been called the most staggering wildlife show on Earth. After visiting Gold Harbor, Grytviken, Jason Harbor, and Salisbury Plain, I couldn't agree more!
South Georgia Island is an amazing travel destination and a unique place in the world.

If you enjoyed this video and would like to treat me to a cup of tea, I welcome a little boost of love! ♥️
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Watch this video in Bulgarian:
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#southgeorgia #antarctica #grytviken #whalingstation #goldharbor #salisburyplain #kingpenguins #elephantseals #seals #furseals
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A Voyage of Discovery: Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands

You’ll enjoy unforgettable encounters with untamed wildlife in a vast, dramatic and spectacular setting; you’ll take a step back in time at historically significant sites; and you’ll be mesmerized by the rich diversity and contrasts that make these regions so captivating and unique.

Learn more about our Falkland Islands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula expeditions ⇨
Check out our current Antarctic offers ⇨

Behind the Lens: An Emotional Walk through Grytviken, South Georgia

Expedition Filmmaker and Silversea Onboard Photographer, Ross Vernon McDonald shares his once-in-a-lifetime moment from Grytviken in South Georgia. Witnessing history first-hand, McDonald found it emotional to admire the miraculous recovery of nature in the former whaling station, giving him hope for the future of our planet's ecosystems and wildlife.

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Behind the Lens: Our team of wildlife photographers and wildlife filmmakers take you behind the scenes and break down their best wildlife photography and explain how they captured these amazing moments on camera.

►Read the full account of the moment on Silversea's blog:


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Silversea Cruises, is recognised as an innovator in the ultra-luxury cruise industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Spirit and Silver Muse – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance.

With the inclusion of the expedition ships Silver Origin, Silver Explorer, and Silver Cloud, Silversea's itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, both Polar Regions and hundreds of fascinating destinations in between.

Silversea is also looking forward to the launch of four new ultra-luxury ships: Silver Moon, Silver Dawn, and two Evolution-class ships. Browse Silversea's blog, Discover, and subscribe to receive the latest content directly into your inbox.

Day in the Life: Falkland Islands and South Georgia, Antarctica

Do you desire to do it all on your Antarctic adventure? Then this is the voyage for you! Not only will you cross the Antarctic Circle and travel further south than traditional Antarctic cruises, you'll also visit the wildlife playgrounds of the Falklands and South Georgia. This journey is for anyone who appreciates a wide variety of landscapes, unprecedented wildlife viewing opportunities and a healthy mix of historic landing sites.

Learn about Falkland Islands, South Georgia, & Antarctica expeditions ⇨
Check out current Antarctic offers ⇨

Expedition Overview: South Georgia & The Falklands

Get a sense of what it's like to venture to South Georgia & the Falklands and explore the islands in depth with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. The expedition:

South Georgia: Unrivaled Wildlife, Unparalleled Wonder

South Georgia is sometimes called the “Galapagos of the Poles” because of the massive king penguin colony at Salisbury Plain, and other wildlife, including the thousands of fur and elephant seals. Polar history enthusiasts are particularly keen to visit South Georgia. British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton first crossed the island in 1916 in search of aid for his ill-fated trans-Antarctic expedition. Upon Shackleton’s death, his widow insisted the late great explorer be buried at the former whaling station at Grytviken, South Georgia.

Learn more about our voyages to South Georgia ⇨
Check out our current Antarctic offers ⇨
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Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands

Set out on an epic voyage to the remote lands made famous by Ernest Shackleton. Traveling aboard the ice-class expedition ships, National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion, spend six days discovering the icy wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula. Learn more:

Experience South Georgia - The Serengeti of the Southern Ocean

For more information, please see our page here:

South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari

Our South Georgia and Antarctica: Penguin Safari itinerary is the fastest way to get to the seldom visited South Georgia Island while also setting foot on the 7th Continent.

Guests will have the opportunity to:

- See South Georgia’s incredible wildlife, including 30 breeding bird species and four penguin species
- Follow in the wake of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s perilous voyages to South Georgia and pause for a moment at his grave site
- Explore the Antarctic Peninsula by ship, Zodiac, kayak and foot (and by air, if traveling on Ultramarine)
- Enjoy presentations on wildlife, history, glaciology and geology by our onboard polar experts
- Immerse yourself in the icy realm of the Antarctic, with additional paid activities such as sea kayaking and paddling excursions

Learn more about the Penguin Safari itinerary ⇨
Check out our current offers ⇨

Thousands of penguins on South Georgia island

South Georgia offers breathtakin scenery: mountains, glaciers, fjords and millions of penguins. Not to mention all the historical landmarks, such as: ancient cemetery with polar explorers remains and run down whaling bases.

Open virtual tour from South Georgia here:

Conservation of Wildlife of South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands

The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Island is home to tens of millions of seabirds and marine mammals, as well as diverse plant and invertebrate communities and marine ecosystems.

Located in the sub-Antarctic, the islands of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Island are of hemispheric importance as key breeding sites for wildlife that migrates across the entire Southern Ocean.

This film explores the environmental threats which South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have faced, and the inspiring conservation work that continues to be undertaken to safeguard these islands a more secure future.

Produced by the South Georgia Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Don Hanson Charitable Foundation and the Friends of the British Overseas Territories.

For more information, please see:

Narrated by Stewart McPherson.

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