Grytviken
Raise a toast to Shackleton and walk around the rusting ruins of the old whaling station at Grytviken, the historic heart of South Georgia.
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Prince Olav Harbour: key information
- Historic whaling station with abandoned buildings and an atmospheric shipwreck
- Home to large number of elephant seals and fur seals
- Hiking above the landing site to a small lake and scenic viewpoint
- Latitude 54°03'S, Longitude 37°09'W
About Prince Olav Harbour
Landing opposite the whaling station at Prince Olav Harbour
Prince Olav Harbour plays a central role in South Georgia's human history. Sat at the western end of Possession Bay, it is the most likely spot where Captain James Cook made the first landfall on South Georgia on 17 January 1775, taking possession of the island for the British crown. The site subsequently became an important port of call for the fur seal trade of the 19th century.
In 1911, a lease was granted to operate a whaling station here – initially using a factory ship, but with a shore station become established in 1916. Prince Olav Harbour was unusual in that it was initially South African run rather than by the Norwegians who dominated whaling on the island: many of the workers here were recruited from the Zulu community.
The whaling station only had a short life and was abandoned in 1931. Most of the processing plant was sent down the coast to Leith Harbour; the main buildings that can be seen today were accommodation for the station's workers.
The impressive wreck is that of Brutus, built in 1883, which was used as coaling hulk and sank sometime after the station was abandoned.
Wildlife at Prince Olav Harbour
Prince Olav Harbour is unusual in South Georgia in that is does not have any resident penguins. Instead, the bays that surround the old whaling station are thick with fur seals, breeding in very high densities.
Elephant seals are also well represented, particularly around Elephant Lagoon at the southern end of the bay (a good place for zodiac cruising) and on the beach below the reservoir in North Bay.
The main bird species that nest at Prince Olav harbour are kelp gulls in large numbers and blue-eyed shags. As always in South Georgia, wherever there are large numbers of seals, you'll also find giant petrels.
Male fur seal at Prince Olav Harbour
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Visitor guidelines for Prince Olav Harbour
Landings may be made in North Bay, although at the peak of fur seal breeding season the density of wildlife may be such that only zodiac cruises are possible. If landing here, there is a path following an old waterpipe that leads up hill to the reservoir that once supplied the whaling station with water. The views of the station and of the peaks surrounding Possession Bay from here are tremendous.
It is forbidden to approach within 200m of the ruined whaling station at Prince Olav Harbour, including from the sea. This is due to the risk of flying debris and possible exposure to airborne asbestos.
Prince Olav Harbour is not subject to a site visitor management plan by the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.
NOTE: Ship itineraries and visits to specific landing sites in South Georgia can never be guaranteed. Plans can change as fast as the polar weather: decisions on which locations to visit are always made on the day by the ship's captain and expedition leader.
More landing sites in South Georgia
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Fortuna Bay
Fortuna Bay is home to one of South Georgia's most charming king penguin colonies, and offers the chance to recreate the historic Shackleton Walk to Stromness.
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Stromness Harbour
Stromness is where Shackleton arrived at the end of his epic trek across South Georgia and remains the terminus for a popular hike from Fortuna Bay.
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