The Shag Rocks are six small islands in the westernmost extreme of South Georgia, 240 km west of the main island of South Georgia, and 1,000 km off the Falkland Islands. The Shag Rocks cover a total area of fewer than 49 acres. Situated on the South Georgia Ridge, they have a peak elevation above sea level of 246 feet and stand in water approximately 1,047 feet deep.
The average temperatures fall between −1.2 °C and 10 °C and rarely climb above 15 °C. Although there is not much flora, seabird guano covers the majority of the rocks. The major wildlife found on the islands in South Georgia is shags, prions, and wandering albatrosses.
Shag Rocks have been the site of several shipwrecks. Photo credit: Steve Jones
The average temperatures fall between −1.2 °C and 10 °C and rarely climb above 15 °C. Although there is not much flora, seabird guano covers the majority of the rocks. The major wildlife found on the islands in South Georgia is shags, prions, and wandering albatrosses.
Shag Rocks have been the site of several shipwrecks. According to history, Jose de la Llana and the Spanish ship Aurora made the discovery of Shag Rocks, also known as Islas Aurora, in 1762. The famous Aurora Islands are being named after this ship. In addition, the Spanish ship San Miguel made repeated visits to them in 1769, the Aurora did the same in 1774, and the Princesa and the Dolores did so once more in 1779. Finally, in 1794, the Spanish corvette Atrevida mapped the Auroras.
Though the Aurora Islands are considered by many legends to have been a mistaken sighting that was coincidentally near the Shag Rocks, which were recognized by sealers prior to 1823,. Shags and other seabirds visit them, which is probably why James P. Sheffield gave them their current name when he rediscovered them later.
The Shag Rocks form part of the British overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Photo credit: EK 11 @ Flickr
Staff from Discovery Investigations chartered them on the William Scoresby in 1927. In 1956, Argentine geologist Mario Giovinetto made the first documented landing on the islands when he was lowered from a helicopter to gather geological samples. The Shag Rocks form part of the British overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Prior to 1985, they came within the Falkland Islands Dependencies. However, the Shag Rocks and Black Rock are laying claims against Argentina.
Prior to 1985, they came within the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Photo credit: David Stanley @ Flickr
Black Rock and Shag Rocks are on the route from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia Island, on a seamount of Scotia Ridge. In 1985, the United Kingdom formed its overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which includes Shag Rocks and Black Rock. Thus, it is now assumed that accountability exists for the preservation and defense of the area.
The Shag Rocks are six small islands in the westernmost extreme of South Georgia, 240 km west of the main island of South Georgia, and 1,000 km off the Falkland Islands. Photo credit: David Stanley @ Flickr
