Cooper Bay

Cooper Bay

Cooper Bay is located near the southern tip of South Georgia. This picturesque bay is nestled in a scenic valley, surrounded by towering glaciers and majestic mountains that rise steeply from the shoreline. The bay's tranquil atmosphere is only interrupted by the occasional call of a seabird or the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. The bay often avoids the worst of South Georgia's weather due to its relatively sheltered location. The bay is named after Lieutenant Robert Cooper, who served with Captain James Cook when the latter sailed here in 1775. The bay has three coves bordered by rugged cliffs facing Cooper Island, which provides much of the bay's shelter from storms. Cooper Island was an important retreat for the South Georgia Pipit, which can now be joyfully heard by visitors landing on the mainland, prior to the successful completion of the rat eradication program in 2018. The abundance of wildlife in Cooper Bay is nothing short of amazing. All four species of breeding penguins of South Georgia can be seen here: Macaroni, Gentoo, Chinstrap and King Penguins. Light Mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Southern Giant Petrels and Brown Skuas all nest here, as do smaller Burrowing Petrels that make their home in the tussock, including White-Chinned Petrels and Wilson's Storm Petrels. Their numbers, along with South Georgia Pipits and Pintail Ducks, have increased since the successful rat extermination program. During the summer months, the beaches of Cooper Bay are teeming with Fur Seals and Elephant Seals.