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104 lines
8.2 KiB
Plaintext
104 lines
8.2 KiB
Plaintext
SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
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(dependent territory of the UK)
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GEOGRAPHY
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Total area: 4,066 km2; land area: 4,066 km2; includes Shag and
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Clerke Rocks
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Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
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Land boundaries: none
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Coastline: undetermined
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Maritime claims:
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Territorial sea: 12 nm
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Disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
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Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the
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year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls
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as snow
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Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are
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rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep,
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glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic
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origin with some active volcanoes
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Natural resources: fish
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Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
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pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%; largely covered
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by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of
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grass, moss, and lichen
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Environment: reindeer, introduced early in this century, live
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on South Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult to
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approach the South Sandwich Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are
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subject to active volcanism
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Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays,
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which provide good anchorage
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PEOPLE
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Population: no permanent population; there is a small military
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garrison on South Georgia and the British Antarctic Survey has a
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biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich islands are
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uninhabited
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GOVERNMENT
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Long-form name: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (no
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short-form name)
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Type: dependent territory of the UK
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Capital: Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
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Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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Constitution: 3 October 1985
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Legal system: English common law
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National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
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Executive branch: British monarch, commissioner
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Legislative branch: none
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Judicial branch: none
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Leaders:
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Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
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represented by Commissioner William Hugh FULLERTON (since 1988; resident
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at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
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ECONOMY
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Overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is
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a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The
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islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK.
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Budget: revenues $291,777; expenditures $451,011, including
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capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)
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Electricity: 900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per
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capita (1990)
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COMMUNICATIONS
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Highways: NA
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Ports: Grytviken on South Georgia
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Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
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1 with runway 2,440-3,659 m
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Telecommunications: coastal radio station at Grytviken; no
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broadcast stations
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DEFENSE FORCES
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Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
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