The South Orkney Islands are a group of islands in the Southern Ocean. The islands are claimed both by Britain as part of the British Antarctic Territory since 1962. Previously, the were part of the previously as a Falkland Islands Dependencies and by Argentina as part of Argentine Antarctica. Under the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, sovereignty claims are held in abeyance.
Britain and Argentina both maintain bases on the islands. The Argentine base, Orcadas, established 1904, is sited on Laurie Island. The British Antarctic Survey base, Signy Research Station, is located on Signy Island and was established in 1947. Apart from personnel at the bases, there are no permanent inhabitants on the islands.
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