Grytviken, South Georgia

Grytviken means ‘pot cove’ in Norwegian, named for trypots left over from sealing days that were found there. Larsen established the site in 1904; the first permanent settlement on South Georgia. The original prefabricated buildings and equipment arrived on board the Louise, the wreck that lies on the shorelines below the cemetery. The station originally consisted of three buildings, a slipway and three blubber cookers. It expanded over the years to incorporate meat and bone cookers, laboratories, workshops, storehouses, a church and even a cinema. It remained one of the largest stations, second only to that at Leith Harbour, and was also the only one to run continuously from its establishment in 1904 to the end of whaling on South Georgia in 1964.

We visited the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton and there is an excellent museum at Grytviken.

This was our first day walking in deep snow which can be challenging with aggressive fur seals around.Read more