View source for Shag Rocks (South Georgia)

{{short description|Group of six South Atlantic islets}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2025| name             = Shag Rocks, Aurora Islands
| image_name       = SGI-2016-South Georgia–islas aurora 01.jpg{{!}}300px
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| location         =
| coordinates      = {{coord|53|32|51|S|42|01|12|W|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands|South Georgia]]
| total_islands    =
| major_islands    =
| area_km2         =
| area_ha         = 20     <!-- | area             = {{convert|20|ha|acre|abbr=on}} -->
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| elevation_m      = 75
| population       = 0
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| country          = [[United Kingdom]]
}}

The '''Shag Rocks''' ({{langx|es|Islas Aurora}}) are six small [[islet]]s in the westernmost extreme of [[South Georgia Island|South Georgia]],  {{convert|240|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of the main island of South Georgia and {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} off Islas Malvina[[Islas Malvinas|s]].<ref name="Headland">{{cite book |last1=Headland |first1=Robert |title=The Island of South Georgia |date=1992 |publisher=CUP |location=Google Books |isbn=9780521424745 |pages=20 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lZ04AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA20}}</ref> The Shag Rocks are located at {{coord|53|32|51|S|42|01|12|W|type:isle|display=inline}}. {{convert|16|km|mi}} further southeast is [[Black Rock, South Georgia|Black Rock]], which is located at {{coord|53|38|06|S|41|46|30|W|type:isle|name=Black Rock}}.

The Shag Rocks cover a total area of less than {{convert|20|ha|acre}}.  Situated on the [[South Georgia Ridge]], they have a peak elevation above sea level of {{convert|75|m|ft|0}}, and stand in water approximately {{convert|319|m|ft|0}} deep. Temperatures average {{convert|-1.2|°C|°F|1}}, rarely climbing above {{convert|15|°C|°F}}. There is no significant vegetation, but the rocks are covered by the [[guano]] of seabirds. The main wildlife found on the rocks are the [[South Georgia shag]]s,<ref name=Burton>{{cite book|author1=Burton, Robert |author2=Croxall, John |title=A Field Guide to the Wildlife of South Georgia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jT8AAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA15|year=2012|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-15661-3 |page=15}}</ref> [[Prion (bird)|prions]] and [[wandering albatross]]es.

== History ==
The Shag Rocks were discovered by [[Jose de la Llana]] in 1762 with the Spanish ship ''[[Aurora (ship)|Aurora]]'', and originally named the [[Aurora Islands]], after his ship. They were visited by the Spanish ship ''San Miguel'' in 1769, again by the ''Aurora'' in 1774, and in 1779 by the Spanish ships ''Princesa'' and ''Dolores''. In 1794 the Auroras were finally mapped by the Spanish corvette ''[[Atrevida (1789)|Atrevida]]''. However, the Aurora Islands are considered by many to have been a mistaken sighting that was coincidentally near the Shag Rocks, which were known to sealers prior to 1823. They were later rediscovered by [[James P. Sheffield]] and given their current name, probably because shags and other seabirds frequent them. They were charted by [[Discovery Investigations]] personnel on the ''[[RRS William Scoresby|William Scoresby]]'' in 1927. The first known landing was made in 1956 when Argentine geologist [[Mario Giovinetto]] was lowered from a helicopter to collect rock samples.<ref name="Headland"/>

== Government ==
The Shag Rocks form part of the [[British overseas territory]] of [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]].  Before 1985 they came within the [[Falkland Islands Dependencies]].

[[Argentina]] lays claim to the Shag Rocks and [[Black Rock, South Georgia|Black Rock]]. Black Rock and Shag Rocks are on the route from the Islas Malvinas  to South Georgia, on a [[seamount]] of [[Scotia Ridge]].

Britain, in 1985, formed its overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which includes Black Rock and Shag Rocks. It now assumes responsibility for preservation and defence of the area.

== See also ==
* [[Composite Antarctic Gazetteer]]
* [[History of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]]
* [[List of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands]]
* [[List of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands#List of Antarctic islands north of 60° S|List of Antarctic islands north of 60° S]]
* [[Rockall]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-georgia-and-south-sandwich-islands/ CIA World Factbook Entry ''South Georgia'']
*[http://www.britlink.org/overseas-territories/south-georgia/shag-rocks/ The Shag Rocks, South Atlantic Ocean at Britlink.]
*[http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/onc/txu-pclmaps-oclc-8322829_u_19.jpg ONC U-19 South Georgia; South Sandwich Islands] (map including the Shag Rocks)

{{SGSSI}}

[[Category:Uninhabited islands of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]]
[[Category:Islands of South Georgia]]