The British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are actually three separate island groups, some of which are more than two thousand miles apart. Apart from the fact that they are all volcanic in origin, and that they are in the South Atlantic Ocean, they are united politically, in that they are administered as part of the same British overseas territory.
Prior to September of 2009, they were known as Saint Helena and Dependencies. However, a new constitution specified that the three islands were to have equal status within the territory. Because of its historical name, the three islands are sometimes referred to collectively as Saint Helena, but Saint Helena more accurately refers to the one island, situated in between the other two.
Saint Helena is about 1,200 miles west of Angola and 1,800 east of Brazil. Ascension Island is just over 700 miles to the southwest.
Saint Helena consists of one island, with an area of about 47 square miles, little more than a dot in the ocean. Its capital city is Jamestown, in the northwest part of the island. Other settlements include Haytown, Half Tree Hollow, Ladder Hill, Saint Paul's, Briars Village, Barren Ground, Broad Bottom, Blue Hill, Levelwood, Longwood, Bamboo Hedge, New Ground, and Thompson's Hill.
The tiny island rises dramatically from the ocean, reaching a height of 2,690 feet above sea level at Diana's Peak. The perimeter of the island consists of sheer barren cliffs intersected with deep valleys, sloping from central ridges. There is very little flat land on Saint Helena; rather, its terrain is steep and rocky. Its mountain streams sometimes dry up during the summer. At the higher levels, there is semi-tropical vegetation and brush, but this transitions to grassland and pasture before the terrain becomes dry and mostly barren in the lowlands.
Saint Helena was formed from two separate volcanoes, both of which were shield volcanoes. All surface eruptions ceased more than seven million years ago, however. The volcanoes are no longer active.
Saint Helena was discovered by the Portuguese in 1502 and was named for the mother of Emperor Constantine. The Portuguese were the first to inhabit the island, which was used as a place to replenish supplies. In 1613, the Dutch took the island by force, claiming it in 1633, but they never occupied or colonized it. In 1658, the English East India Company occupied and fortified the island. In 1815, England exiled Napoleon Bonaparte to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821. The island became a Crown Colony in 1833, a British Dependent Territory in 1981, and a British Overseas Territory in 2002.
Like Saint Helena, Ascension also consists of one isolated island, also volcanic in origin. Ascension is about 1,000 miles east of Brazil, and around the same distance to Liberia.
Throughout its modern history, Ascension has been a working island, and essentially a multi-national communications and military hub, although politically it is part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The island is the location of Royal Air Force Ascension Island, a European Space Agency tracking station, an American signals intelligence facility, and the BBC World Service Atlantic Relay Station. Although there are people who are stationed there, or who work on the island, only a few actually live there.
The Portuguese were the first to discover the island, and since it was sighted on Ascension Day, that became its name. As it was dry and barren, it was not claimed by Portugal, although the Portuguese introduced goats as a potential source of meat for passing ship crews.
In 1815, the British stationed a garrison on the island as a precaution after Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to Saint Helena, and it was claimed for Britain.
Tristan da Cunha is the most remote archipelago in the world. It is about 1,500 miles southwest of Saint Helena, and 1,700 miles west of Cape Town, South Africa.
The island is dominated by its volcanic mountain, and it has only one settlement, known as Settlement of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. Besides the main island of Tristan da Cunha, the archipelago includes Gough Island, 218 miles away, which includes an inhabited weather station. The other islands, which are uninhabited, are Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, Middle Island, and Stoltenhoff Island.
In 1906. Britain decided to evacuate the island, but the islanders refused. No ships visited from 1909 to 1919. In 1961, Queen Mary's Peak erupted, forcing the evacuation of the island's 264 inhabitants. Fleeing first to Nightingale, they were taken to Britain. Most families returned in 1963, and the island currently has a population of around 300. The island is mountainous, the only flat area being its settlement. Queen Mary's Peak is covered in snow in the winter.
Recommended Resources
Owned by the Saint Helena Government as the majority shareholder, the Bank is a Limited Company with a board appointed by shareholders, the Bank is headquartered in Market Square, Jamestown, Saint Helena Island, and has a branch on Ascension Island, as well as a kiosk on the wharf and airport in Saint Helena, and remote banking services. Its locations, hours, products, and services are posted, and online banking services are available to customers.
https://www.sainthelenabank.com/
Although the author includes other topics of significance to his life, such as software. the British Rail TOPS system, theater, and Christmas recipes, the site also includes accounts of his visits to Ascension Island in 1997, 2004, and 2006, including his impressions of the island, historical content, and the geology, ecology, natural resources, sports, as well as several photographs, links to other useful sites, and book suggestions.
https://www.les-smith.com/
Based in Jamestown, on the island of Saint Helena, the business creates a variety of cards, gifts, and souvenirs made on the island, which are offered for sale, as well as offering other printing and publishing services like small-scale printing, photo printing, and scanning. Its location, hours and contacts are posted, along with a list of products and services. Posters listing gifts by birth month and star sign may be downloaded.
https://moonbeamsforall.com/
Situated in lower Jamestown, at the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder, the museum’s origins go back to 1854, when its contents included a sea serpent and a flying lizard. Over the years, several small museums around the island were developed into a more comprehensive museum, which came together in 1979 with the formation of the St. Helena Heritage Society. Its location, hours, collections, exhibitions, and a gallery of photographs are included.
https://www.museumofsainthelena.org
Broadcasting since 2004, the FM radio station focus is on the Saint Helena Island community, offering entertainment, talk shows, news, and other programming. Available on the air to listeners on Saint Helena, its programming can be heard through streaming radio via its website. Advertising opportunities include announcements, advertising, and custom advertising radio promotions and jingles.
https://www.saint.fm/
Designed to promote Saint Helena Island as a tourist and vacation destination, the site offers several suggestions for places to visit while on the island, including what the authors consider to be the seven wonders of Saint Helena, the top ten things to do, or places to visit, as well as information about island cuisine, island nature, culture, and history. Photos, video, and souvenirs are included.
https://sthelenaisland.info/
Photos and a description of the island are presented, including its climate, history, people, language, traditions, customs, and other useful information. Suggestions on how to get to the island are offered, as well as transport options once arrived, general travel information, restaurants, and guest accommodations. Places to visit, tours, excursions, and sports and leisure activities are discussed.
https://www.sthelenatourism.com/
The official government website for the Atlantic island of Saint Helena offers a view of the island’s heritage and culture, island celebrations, music, and religion, as well as the text of its constitution, legislation, and other documents. Government offices and services are introduced, and its administrative offices, contacts, and hours are posted. Other resources include visitor and investor information, government statistics, publications, and media.
https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/
St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Philatelic Society
SHATPS is an affiliate of the American Philatelic Society and was formed in 1976 to research philatelic materials relating to Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, to promote the development of such, to help others to learn of these three islands, and encourage friendship among collectors of stamps. Membership may be applied for online, and Society publications, auctions, sales, and other resources are included.
https://www.shatps.org/
Based in Georgetown, Ascension Island, Sure Mobile offers 2G and 4G broadband Internet and wireless Internet hotspots. Offering telecommunications services in the South Atlantic to Ascension Island, the Falkland Islands, and Saint Helena, on Saint Helena the company can offer national and international fixed lines, mobile roaming, and broadband services, as well as a data center and enterprise solutions for consumer and corporate clients.
http://www.sure.co.ac/
Maintained by the Tristan da Cunha Government and the Tristan da Cunha Association, the site offers several photographs from various parts of the main island and some of the other islands in the archipelago, including aerial photos. Information for those who may want to visit the islands is set forth, such as the necessary approvals, terms and conditions, and transportation options, as well as where to stay, local attractions, and excursions.
https://www.tristandc.com/
Situated about 1,750 miles from South Africa, and 1,500 miles from Saint Helena, the nearest land mass, Tristan da Cunha is the remotest group of islands in the world. A profile of the British overseas territory is presented, including demographics and other facts about the islands, a map, and a discussion of the economy of Tristan da Cunha, several photographs, and videos of the islands.
https://www.tristandacunha.org/
The online newspaper of Tristan da Cunha features highlights from its main island and other islands in the archipelago, including photographs and informational articles, news from the islands, and reports relating to island government, education, conservation and the environment, fisheries and other industries, shipping reports, and the people of the island. Articles are written by news staff, contributors, and the South Atlantic Remote Territories Media Association, of which it is a member.
https://www.tristantimes.com/
World Factbook: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
A map showing the locations of the British territorial islands is presented by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States, including an introduction to the islands, geographical features, people, society, and governmental structure. The economy, energy and communications infrastructure, transportation options, security issues, and international relations are touched upon.
https://www.cia.gov/library/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-helena-ascension-and-tristan-da-cunha/summaries/the-world-factbook/geos/sh.html
