Highlights - South Georgia
South Georgia is one of the few submerged lands in the Southern Ocean and one of the key ports of call for Antarctic cruises. This snow-covered crescent on the surface of the water reveals its history through the remnants of whaling stations, shows off its beauty through breathtaking landscapes, and entices admiration with its exceptional fauna. Find out more about our five must-see attractions in South Georgia.
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Highlights - South Georgia
South Georgia is one of the few submerged lands in the Southern Ocean and one of the key ports of call for Antarctic cruises. This snow-covered crescent on the surface of the water reveals its history through the remnants of whaling stations, shows off its beauty through breathtaking landscapes, and entices admiration with its exceptional fauna. Find out more about our five must-see attractions in South Georgia.
Find yourself in unimaginable surroundings
Berth in South Georgia and discover incredible panoramas. The grey sandy beaches follow on from plains of tussock (high grass) that roll down from the peaks. South Georgia is a region formed by an underwater mountain range that extends from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. The result? Eleven peaks rise to more than 2,000 metres, the highest of which, Mount Paget, hits 2,330 metres. The island is emblematic of the Southern Ocean, because it gives a first taste of the Antarctic landscapes. Glaciers and eternal snow cover more than half of this island, located more than 1,700 kilometres from Tierra del Fuego.
Get up close to a colony of king penguins
Visit a whole new world in which thousands of king penguins come and go in their well-organised society, indifferent to any human presence. If you're lucky enough to visit Salisbury Plain or Saint Andrews, you'll witness an incredible show: Salisbury Plain is home to no fewer than 250,000 penguins, and in Saint Andrews, 100,000 couples of chinstrap penguins, gentoos, macaronis, and many others frolic together.
Fall in love with the marine wildlife
In the 1900s, only about 100 Antarctic fur seals remained due to intensive hunting. Today, there are about 2.5 million, 95% of which live in South Georgia. Each year, 600,000 elephant seals also breed on the island.
In the water, the show is truly breathtaking. Killer whales, humpback whales, and other cetaceans often accompany ships on their journeys to Antarctica.
Uncover the history of the first whaling stations
While marine mammals now swim in the icy waters in complete tranquillity, this hasn't always been the case. In 1904, the Norwegians set up the first whaling stations in South Georgia, and the last one remained in operation until 1965. The bones of these sea giants are still visible today on some shores. It is now estimated that more than 1.7 million whales were killed in South Georgia during this period.
Walk in the footsteps of the great explorers
South Georgia is also the resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton's remains. The British explorer went down in history for having kept his men alive for 22 months in Antarctica after the loss of his ice-crushed ship during the Endurance expedition. A cruise to Antarctica means following in the footsteps of the adventurers who contributed to our understanding of the South Pole, from James Cook to Roald Amundsen, including Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache, and Paul-Émile Victor.
