Saint Helena Island , Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena: the world's most remote inhabited island

Tristan da Cunha is a volcanic archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, under the jurisdiction of the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena, and has been described as "the world's most remote permanent human settlement". The main island, Tristan, is about 2,800 kilometers from Cape Town, South Africa, and has a permanent population of less than 300 people, all of whom live in a single settlement called "Edinburgh".

Geographic features and ecological environment

The archipelago consists of the islands of Tristan, Inaccessible and Nightingale, and is home to the active volcano Queen Mary (2,062 meters). The unique isolation of the islands supports rare species such as the endemic Tristan's reed warbler and the North Atlantic right whale. The area around the island is classified as an Important Bird Area by the BirdLife International and is home to millions of seabirds.

History and modern life

The island became a British dependency in 1816 and is populated by the descendants of 19th-century British soldiers, sailors and St. Helena women. There is no airport and the island is resupplied by South African research vessels about nine times a year, with electricity supplied by diesel generators and a school, hospital and coffee factory. The economy is based on the sale of fishing stamps and handicrafts.

Tourism and Visiting Methods

Due to the extreme inaccessibility of the island, visits are limited to a few dozen per year and must be requested a year in advance through the island's administration. Visitors can experience volcano hiking, bird watching and the unique community culture, but need to bring all their own specialized equipment. It is currently only possible to reach the island from Cape Town on a six-day voyage by ocean-going fishing or research vessel.