Gold Harbour Explained

Gold Harbour
Location:South east coast of South Georgia
Coords:-54.6258°N -35.9378°W
Type:Bay
Pushpin Map:United Kingdom South Georgia
Pushpin Map Alt:A map showing the location of Gold Harbour in South Georgia

Gold Harbour (Spanish; Castilian: Puerto de Oro) is a small bay 5miles south-southwest of Cape Charlotte, with Bertrab Glacier at its head, along the east end of South Georgia. During the early 1900s, the feature was variously called "Anna's Bay", "Gold-Hafen" or "Sandwich Bay"; the latter name has also been used for Iris Bay. The approved name appears to have taken root through common usage by sealers and whalers and is now well established.

Gold Harbour is so called because the sun's rays make the cliffs yellow with their light in the morning and evening. There is no particular historical or geological reason to give Gold Harbour its mineral name, which was in common use among the early sealers. Perhaps they were inspired by the sunsets.

Wildlife

The area is a breeding ground for penguins, including King penguins and Gentoo penguins; Southern elephant seals also breed here, especially at the west end of the beach, where a glacial stream flows. Light-mantled albatrosses breed here as well.

See also

References

External links