Fortuna Glacier

Fortuna Glacier is a tidewater glacier in Cumberland Bay that flows northeast in two distinct branches toward the surrounding bays. The ice mass splits into a main body and an eastern arm that extends nearly to the western edge of Fortuna Bay, creating a wide expanse of white ice against the darker landscape.

The glacier was named in 1912 by early Antarctic explorers after a whaling vessel operating in these waters. In 1916, Ernest Shackleton and his crew crossed its ice during their emergency journey to Stromness station following the sinking of their ship.

The glacier received its name in 1912 from early Antarctic explorers who named it after a whaling vessel operating in the region.

Access to the glacier is possible only with specialized expedition teams reaching it by boat across Cumberland Bay in this remote corner of the world. Visitors should expect long water journeys and variable ice conditions that can change rapidly based on weather and seasonal cycles.

The glacier unexpectedly became a site of military operations in 1982 when British Special Forces conducted helicopter rescue missions here during severe weather as part of the Falklands War. This unusual chapter adds a modern military dimension to a place otherwise known for exploration and nature.

Location: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

GPS coordinates: -54.10000,-36.85000

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:45