Lighthouses of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a remote British Overseas Territory in the Subantarctic Atlantic Ocean. The territory has no permanent inhabitants; it is governed by a Commissioner based at Stanley in the Falkland Islands.

South Georgia, the principal island of the territory, is located about 1400 km (875 mi) east southeast of the Falkland Islands and 1940 km (1210 mi) east northeast of Cape Horn. It is a substantial island, 167 km (104 mi) long and up to 37 km (23 mi) wide, with mountains as high as 2934 m (9626 ft). Capt. James Cook surveyed the island and claimed it for Britain in 1775. There have never been permanent communities on the island, but half a dozen whaling and sealing stations operated along the north coast during the first two thirds of the 20th century.

The oldest and largest whaling station, Grytviken, was founded in 1904 at King Edward Cove, a protected inlet of Cumberland Bay on the north coast of the island. The station was abandoned in 1965, but several of its buildings survive and the British Antarctic Survey maintains a scientific station year-round at King Edward Point nearby. Adventure cruise ships visit Grytviken during the summer months.

Admiralty numbers are from volume G of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 111.

General Sources
Online List of Lights - South Georgia
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for South Georgia.


Inner Range Rear Light, Grytviken, March 2014
Google Maps street view

South Georgia Lightbeacons
* [Grytviken Inner Range Front]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 10 m (33 ft); continuous green light. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) mast painted white with red bands and carrying a small triangular red daymark. Google has a street view but the small light is not seen in Google's satellite view. This is the entrance range for King Edward Cove. Located on the Grytviken waterfront. Site open. Admiralty G1367.
* [Grytviken Inner Range Rear]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; continuous green light. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) mast painted white with a red band and carrying a small triangular red daymark. Google has the street view seen above but the small light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located in front of the historic Grytviken Church about 200 m (220 yd) northwest of the front light. Site open. Admiralty G1367.1.
* [Grytviken Outer Range Front]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 16 m (52 ft); continuous red light. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) mast painted white with red bands and carrying a small triangular red daymark. Google has a street view but the small light is not seen in Google's satellite view. This is the approach range for King Edward Cove. Located on the Grytviken waterfront about 600 m (3/8 mi) south of the abandoned settlement. Site open. Admiralty G1365.
* [Grytviken Outer Range Rear]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; continuous red light. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) mast painted white with a red band and carrying a small triangular red daymark. Google has a distant street view but the small light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a slope about 300 m (330 yd) west of the front light. Site open. Admiralty G1365.1.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: Southwest: Antarctica | West: Falkland Islands

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Posted June 29, 2021. Checked and revised July 25, 2023. Lighthouses: 0. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.