King Edward Point

History

Main article: History of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Falklands War

King Edward Point was named in honour of King Edward VII. Grytviken (pot cove in Norwegian and Swedish) is nearby and was named after sealers' trywork. Both of these are along the King Edward Cove.

The Post Office in King Edward Point was established in 1909, and has been in operation since then with the exception of the Falklands War. The oldest building in King Edward Point is the customs warehouse and jail built in 1914.

Discovery House, a prefabricated laboratory, was established in 1925, and used by biologists collecting specimens from whale carcasses for six years. In 1929, Discovery II was opened for use in oceanographic study.

Argentine soldiers arrived near King Edward Point on 24 March 1982, and occupied it on 3 April. The British retook King Edward Point in late April.

Environment

Elephant and fur seals inhabit the area. Cats were brought to King Edward Point, but the last one died in 1980.

Climate

Main article: South Georgia#Geography and fauna

King Edward Point and Grytviken have a tundra climate (Köppen ET) with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The highest temperature ever recorded at Grytviken/King Edward Point was 28.8 C on 10 March 1922.

|Jan record high C = 23.0 |Feb record high C = 23.0 |Mar record high C = 21.6 |Apr record high C = 21.7 |May record high C = 17.1 |Jun record high C = 14.1 |Jul record high C = 14.9 |Aug record high C = 13.9 |Sep record high C = 16.0 |Oct record high C = 20.2 |Nov record high C = 20.4 |Dec record high C = 26.4 |year record high C = |Jan record low C = -2.5 |Feb record low C = -3.0 |Mar record low C = -4.0 |Apr record low C = -7.0 |May record low C = -10.0 |Jun record low C = -11.2 |Jul record low C = -15.1 |Aug record low C = -13.0 |Sep record low C = -11.0 |Oct record low C = -9.5 |Nov record low C = -5.0 |Dec record low C = -4.0 |year record low C = | access-date = 21 March 2024}}

|Jan record high C = 24.5 |Feb record high C = 26.5 |Mar record high C = 28.8 |Apr record high C = 19.1 |May record high C = 17.5 |Jun record high C = 14.0 |Jul record high C = 13.6 |Aug record high C = 13.2 |Sep record high C = 17.0 |Oct record high C = 20.0 |Nov record high C = 22.5 |Dec record high C = 21.5 |year record high C =28.8 |Jan record low C = −4.1 |Feb record low C = −3.7 |Mar record low C = −6.3 |Apr record low C = −9.8 |May record low C = −11.4 |Jun record low C = −14.6 |Jul record low C = −15.2 |Aug record low C = −19.2 |Sep record low C = −18.4 |Oct record low C = −11.0 |Nov record low C = −6.4 |Dec record low C = −5.4 |year record low C = −19.2

References

Works cited

References

1. "Local laws and customs - South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice - GOV.UK".
2. "Google Maps".
3. ''[https://digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk/IO_69d70281-b736-4f51-8864-88f88597fb27/ Remarkable Temperatures in the Argentine and South Georgia]''. Meteorological Magazine. 57 (6): 138. June 1922.
4. (Apr 2012). "Temp/Rain 1901–1950". Globalbioclimatics.
5. "South Georgia–Grytviken". Danish Meteorological Institute.
6. "Weather extremes for Grytviken". Météo Climat.