South Shetland Islands

Research stations Frei and Bellingshausen on King George Island South Shetland Islands is a group of islands about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Islands Elephant Island Clarence Island Rowett Island (minor) Gibbs Island (minor) King George Island (the largest) Bridgeman Island (minor) Penguin Island (minor) Nelson Island Aitcho Islands (minor) Greenwich Island Half Moon Island (minor) Desolation Island (minor) Livingston Island (second largest) Rugged Island (minor) Snow Island Smith Island Deception Island Low Island Seal Island (minor) Research stations and Field Camps Artigas (Uruguay) Bellingshausen (Russia) Camp Academia (Bulgaria) Camp Byers (Spain) Camp Livingston (Argentina) Captain Arturo Prat (Chile) Chang Cheng/Great Wall (China) Comandante Ferraz (Brazil) Decepción (Argentina) Gabriel de Castilla (Spain) Henryk Arctowski (Poland) Juan Carlos I (Spain) Jubany (Argentina) King Sejong (South Korea) Machu Pucchu (Peru) Pedro Vicente Maldonaldo (Ecuador) Presidente Eduardo Frei (Chile) Professor Julio Escudero (Chile) Shirreff (Chile/USA) St.Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria) Other destinations Understand The South Shetland Islands are part of the British Antarctic Territory. There is no permanent inhabitation on these islands aside from the personnel on the research stations. The climate is not as rough as on the Antarctic mainland, the temperature oscillates between -10°C and +5°C. Talk Get in If you are not part of a research team, the easiest way to visit the islands is by cruise ship. Cruises to this part of Antarctica usually start from Ushuaia, take one to two weeks and cost at least US$ 5000 per person. Some travel agencies also offer tours by plane to the archipelago's only airport, at the Eduardo Frei Base. Get around See The main sights are the Antarctic landscape and the nature. Itineraries Do Visit Deception Island and take the "polar plunge" offered by many Antarctic cruise tour companies! The water is slightly warmer here than surrounding the continent itself, and you will have quite a story to tell your friends at home. Eat Drink Stay safe Get out This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!