Although South Georgia was first sighted in 1675, Captain Cook was the first to land there on his second voyage around the world. Initially, he thought he had found the mythical southern continent at the south pole, but quickly discovered it was an island. Sealers were attracted to the island by Captain Cooks description and hunted the fur seals almost into extinction. Although they tried desperately not to do the same to whales in the early 1900s, the whales were also nearly driven to extinction, with the Japanese the last to give up in the 1950s when whaling became unprofitable.

Grytviken in sunshine

Grytviken was established as a whaling station in 1904 by Captain Larsen. Grytviken has been permanently inhabited ever since, although nowadays, only two people running the museum live there all year round. Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey live a couple of kilometers away on King Edward Point.

Winter church
Grytviken

Our last visit to Grytviken was in early March. Although the day dawned clear and calm, within an hour, a heavy white snow began to fall, blanketing Grytviken. This little church is one of the few restored buildings in Grytviken (the current museum being another) and has seen a few weddings. Most of Grytviken whaling station is off limits due to rusting steel plates and asbestos.

Shackleton's grave
Grytviken

Sir Ernest Shackleton died from a heart attack in Grytviken as he attempted his third expedition to Antarctica in 1922. Although his body was shipped back to Buenos Aires, his widow requested that it be buried in South Georgia, close to where his heart had always truly lain.

Managers house
Stromness Bay

Pictured here is the remains of the famous white managers house at the Stromness Whaling Station. It was this very house that Shacklton, Crean and Wilde staggered into, looking extremely wild, dirty and haggard after being deemed lost for over a year.