MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Visit South Georgia -- on the web.

The world wide web has been recruited as a new weapon to promote and preserve the unique characteristics of the South Atlantic island of South Georgia.

It is an initiative by a group of enthusiasts at Dundee University in Scotland, led by a former Royal Marines Brigadier David Nicholls who served in the Falklands conflict, and later, as Commander of British Forces in the Falkland Islands, had responsibility for the security of South Georgia.

Code-named "Project Atlantis", the Dundee website becomes active from 30th March, 2002. You can log on at: www.sgisland.org

The Dundee researchers have created a fascinating website to emphasise the need to protect the environment in support of the South Georgia and South Sandwich Government's environmental plan. The website features the island's history, wildlife, science, exploration, fishing and tourist industries and management.

Its creators describe it as a valuable educational resource for studying environmental sciences and for anyone else with an interest, whether scientists, historians, visitors, academics or other professionals.

A knowledge section is specifically designed as an educational resource for children of all ages. For young web surfers there are games, a quiz and projects to do.

South Georgia's remoteness, lack of a runway for aircraft, and surrounding seas whipped up by the world's strongest winds, make it a difficult place to reach. Thanks to the new website, you can now sit at home and enjoy its natural beauty, wildlife and heritage from your computer desk. An explorer map allows you to range over the whole island and visit selected sites by viewing 360-degree panoramic scenes.

An art gallery includes an image database of South Georgia photographs, including some hitherto unpublished wildlife prints of Frank Hurley, the Shackleton expedition's famous photographer. The site uses animation to support text and pictures.

The Dundee website adds an extra dimension to other recent initiatives by South Georgia enthusiasts. These include the founding of a South Georgia Association; the creation of a South Georgia history database by Robert Burton, former director of the South Georgia Whaling Museum; and the Government's environmental plan, compiled by the British Antarctic Survey, providing for protection of wildlife, its remarkable landscape , its 61 sites and shipwrecks of historic in