Happy TravellerWelcome to Grytviken, a remote settlement located on the island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. Grytviken is a unique destination that offers visitors a glimpse into its fascinating history as a whaling station and the largest settlement on the island. Today, Grytviken no longer has permanent residents but occasionally accommodates researchers and British administrative and military personnel. During the summer months, a few staff manage the South Georgia Museum. Despite its small size and remote location, Grytviken has become a popular attraction for Antarctic cruise lines, with many tourists visiting the resting places of polar explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Wild in Grytviken’s graveyard.
The settlement was established in 1904 by Norwegian sea captain Carl Anton Larsen as a whaling station for his Compañía Argentina de Pesca (Argentine Fishing Company). During its heyday, around 300 men worked at the station operating from October to March and a few remained over the winter to maintain the boats and factory. The whaling station closed in December 1966 when dwindling whale stocks made it uneconomical. Today, the shore around Grytviken is littered with whale bones and the rusting remains of whale oil processing plants and abandoned whaling ships. Although it was the largest settlement on South Georgia, the island’s administration was based at the nearby British Antarctic Survey research station at King Edward Point.
Grytviken is built on a substantial area of sheltered, flat land and has a good supply of fresh water. The location’s name, meaning pot bay, was coined in 1902 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition and documented by the surveyor Johan Gunnar Andersson, after the expedition found old English try pots used to render seal oil at the site. Grytviken is located at the head of King Edward Cove within the larger Cumberland East Bay, considered the best harbor on the island. Visitors to Grytviken can explore the South Georgia Museum, housed in the managers house of the former whaling station, which showcases the history and wildlife of the island.
Grytviken is closely associated with the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who arrived at Cave Cove and camped at Peggotty Bluff, from where he trekked to Stromness on the northeast coast after the failure of his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Shackleton died during the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition and his grave is located south of Grytviken, alongside those of whalers who had died on the island. On 27 November 2011, the ashes of Frank Wild, Shackleton’s right-hand man, were interred on the right side of Shackleton’s grave-site. The inscription on the rough-hewn granite block set to mark the spot reads Frank Wild 1873–1939, Shackleton’s right-hand man. Today, tourists usually land in Grytviken to visit Shackleton’s grave and learn more about his expeditions.
Grytviken is a popular stop for cruise ships visiting Antarctica, and tourists can hike or ski the island’s rugged terrain or take boat tours to see the abundant wildlife, including penguins, seals, and whales. Grytviken has a tundra climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. If you’re looking for a unique and remote destination that offers breathtaking landscapes and a rich history, Grytviken is the perfect place to explore.