Balsam Beach

Balsam Beach is a narrow boulder beach on the eastern shore of Greene Peninsula in South Georgia. The coastline features jagged terrain with numerous rocky islands scattered in the subantarctic waters offshore.

The area was mapped between 1901 and 1904 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by explorer Otto Nordenskjöld. This exploration was part of early scientific efforts to document the South Atlantic region.

The beach takes its name from balsam resin, which researchers used to preserve biological specimens they collected in this region. The name reflects the strong connection between this location and scientific work.

Reaching the beach requires maritime travel and advance authorizations from local authorities. Visitors need to arrange access through approved tour operators who handle the required landing permissions.

The offshore rock formations have names based on chemical compounds, reflecting the location's history of scientific research. This unusual naming practice shows how deeply tied the geography is to the work of chemists and biologists.

Location: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Address: Balsam Beach, SIQQ 1ZZ, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

GPS coordinates: -54.31670,-36.43330

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:25