Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha is a group of remote islands in the south South Atlantic Ocean, 2816 km (1750 miles) from South Africa and 3360 km (2088 miles) from South America. It is a dependency of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, 2161 km (1350 miles) to the north. The territory consists of the main island, Tristan da Cunha (98 km²); as well as several uninhabited islands: Inaccessible Island and the Nightingale Islands. Gough Island, situated 395 km south east of the main island, is also part of the territory.

The territory is considered one of the most remote human settlements in the world.

1 History
2 Politics and law
3 Geography
4 Economy
5 Demographics
6 External links

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History

Template:Main Image:Tristan stamp.jpg The islands were first sighted in 1506 by a Portuguese mariner, Tristão da Cunha, although he did not land. He named the main island after himself, Ilha de Tristão da Cunha, which was later anglicised to Tristan da Cunha Island. The first survey of the archipelago was made by the French frigate L'Heure du Berger in 1767. Soundings were taken and a rough survey of the coastline was made. The presence of water at the large waterfall of Big Watron and in a lake on the north coast were noted, and the results of the survey were published by a Royal Navy hydrographer in 1781. The first permanent settler was Jonathan Lambert, from Salem, Massachusetts who arrived at the islands in 1810. He declared the islands his property and named them the Islands of Refreshment. His rule was short lived, as he died in a boating accident in 1812.

In 1815 the United Kingdom formally annexed the islands, ruling them from the Cape Colony in South Africa. This is reported to have primarily been a measure to ensure that the French would not be able to use the islands as a base for a rescue operation to free Napoleon Bonaparte from his prison on St Helena. The occupation also prevented the United States from using Tristan as a base, as they had during the War of 1812. Attempts to colonise Inaccessible Island failed.

The islands were occupied by a British military garrison, and a civilan population was gradually built up. Whalers also set up on the islands as a base for operations in the Southern Atlantic. However the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, together with the move from sailing ships to coal fired steam ships, saw the increased isolation of the islands, as they were no longer needed as a stopping port for journeys from Europe to the Far East. Image:Edinburgh of the Seven Seas.jpg In 1867, The Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria visited the Island. The main settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas was named in honour of his visit. A second Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, visited the islands in 1957 as part of a world tour onboard the royal yacht Britannia.

In 1938, the islands were declared a dependency of Saint Helena.

During World War II the islands were used as a Royal Navy station. HMS Atlantic Isle was established to monitor German shipping movements in the South Atlantic Ocean. The first Administrator was appointed by the British Government during this time.

In 1961, a volcanic eruption forced the evacuation of the entire population back to the UK. They returned in 1963.

In 2005 the island was given a UK post code (TDCU 1ZZ) to make it easier for the residents to order goods online.

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Politics and law

Executive authority is vested in The Queen, who is represented in the territory by the Governor of Saint Helena. As the Governor resides permanently in Saint Helena, an Administrator is appointed to represent the Governor in the islands.

The Administrator acts as the local head of government, and takes advice from the Island Council, made up of 8 elected and 3 appointed members.

Tristan da Cunha has its own legislation, but the law of Saint Helena applies to the extent that it is not inconsistent with local law, in so far as it is suitable for local circumstances and subject to such modifications as local circumstances make necessary.

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Geography

Image:Tristan map.gif The name "Tristan da Cunha" is also used for the archipelago, which consists of the following islands (areas given in km²):

Archipelago of Tristan da Cunha (Tristan da Cunha and its associated islands)

the main island (Tristan da Cunha) and its surrounding (=lying close to the main island Tristan da Cunha) islands
- Tristan da Cunha, the relatively big main island (Template:Coor dms) (98 km²)
- Inaccessible Island (Template:Coor dms) (10 km²)
- Nightingale Islands (2 km²)
  - Nightingale Island (Template:Coor dms) (1.8 km²)
  - Middle Island (0.1 km²)
  - Stoltenhoff Island (0.1 km²)
Gough Island (Template:Coor dm) (Diego Alvarez) (91 km²)

Inaccessible Island and the Nightingale Islands are located 35 km southwest of the main island, while Gough Island is located 395 km SSE.

The main island is quite mountainous; the only flat area is the location of the capital, Edinburgh on the Northwestern coast (sometimes known as "Edinburgh-on-the-Seven-Seas"). The highest point, Queen Mary's Peak (2010 m), is covered by snow in winter.

The other islands of the group are uninhabited, except for Gough Island Weather Station on the namesake island, which has been operated by South Africa since 1956 (since 1963 at its present location at Transvaal Bay on the Southeast coast), with a staff of 4.

Tristan da Cunha is a nesting place of Wandering Albatrosses.

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Economy

The islands’ main source of foreign income is the sale of stamps to overseas collectors. Agriculture is the main industry on the Island, although most people have dual occupations, often working for the local government, and taking up other trades such as fishing, and hunting. The 1961 volcanic erruption destroyed the Island's canned fish factory, which has not been rebuilt.

Tourism is limited due to the isolated location of the islands, However some cruise ships do call at the islands, although many do not land passengers.

South Africa maintains a weather station of Gough Island.

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Demographics

Image:Queen Mary's Peak, Tristan.jpg The islands have a population of 275 people. The main settlement is Edinburgh of the Seven Seas (known locally as "The Settlement"). The main religion is Christianity, with denominations of Anglican and Roman Catholic. There are incidences health problems because of endogamy, including asthma and glaucoma, largely due to the inevitable marriages among distantly related couples, for example marriages between second degree cousins, that comes with having such a small gene pool.

Permission must be sought from the Administrator before landing in Tristan.

The remote location of the islands makes transport to the outside world difficult. There is no airport, and the islands can only be reached by boat. Fishing boats from South Africa regularly service the islands, and the RMS Saint Helena connects the islands to Saint Helena and Ascension Island.

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