Archipelago Tristan da Cunha: location, description

The island of Tristan da Cunha at a distance from the land and people habitable places can be placed on a par with the whole world with such places as Pitcairn, Easter Island and Bouvet. The archipelago occupies its niche in 2,816 thousand kilometers near South Africa. 3,36 thousand km need to be overcome in order to get from it to the southern part of America. 2,161 thousand km divides this point with the island of St. Helena. In 1965, on the land belonging to Gough, they stationed a meteorological station in South Africa, which was rented in Britain.

Geography of location

Despite the fact that there is a volcano on the island, Tristan da Cunha has an invariable number of residents, is the most significant among the nearby island territories.

It is characterized by volcanic origin. Appeared about a million years ago. The point of maximum height, which Tristan da Cunha boasts, is the top called Quinn-Meri, named after the queen. Its height is 2.055 thousand meters above sea level. In winter, snow covers all the mountain peaks.

Quinn Mary is a volcanic object that erupted a couple of times since it was discovered.

At the island of Tristan da Cunha, the shore is rocky, and for the relief there is a mountain character. There are many ravines. People living here call them gorges. On the territory there is a small place where a person can live permanently. This is the north and south-west of the island. There is a pier to which you can get close without taking any chances.

Features of climate and natural conditions

Climatic conditions prevailing in Tristan da Cunha, rainy, oceanic, windy. The island territory of Gotha has an average monthly temperature level within the limits of 9 and 14 and a half degrees. If we move north, we will feel the temperature rise to 11-17.5 degrees. The level of precipitation is about 2 thousand millimeters in the north.

Mammals are not the group of animals that inhabit Tristan da Cunha. There are except that the shore seals. Mice, amphibians and some insects were brought from the island of Hof. Since the nearby St. Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha are sufficiently far from the mainland, this has a specific effect on fauna and flora. Not one endemic plant covers these territories. The Island of the Unapproachable preserved the smallest non-flying bird of the globe. Tristan da Cunha is home to a penguin with a crest.

The high titles of Nightingale, the Unapproachable and the Gof are approved. This is a protected area where wildlife is preserved.

Wildness, however, does not apply to pets and cattle that are born and grow here. There are a lot of them.

Historical data

According to historical data, these islands are discovered in the northern waters, part of the archipelago, in the early 16th century by the Portuguese Tristan (Trishtan) da Cunha. However, the "father" did not step on the ground, which he had found. The discovery of lands, now called Gough, was made by the English navigator Charles Hof in the early 18th century. Before all, seafarers from France, who were part of the crew on board the frigate, came ashore. It happened in the middle of the 18th century.

Own home before all the grounds here was American J. Lambert in the early 19th century. He died a little later.

The island territories were soon annexed. Before the Suez Canal was discovered, the islands were of great importance to travelers between the European coasts and the American East in the waters of the ocean washing India.

The beginning of the 20th century was unpleasantly remembered by the eruption. As a result, a large number of cattle and large areas with plantations for potatoes were killed. The population found shelter on the land of Cape Town. 1961 was also remembered for the eruption that caused damage to the fish processing factory. On the territory of the neighboring island and the UK, the residents were evacuated from Tristan da Cunha. How to get back and live as before, thought only when the factory was rebuilt, and people were able to return.

Living population

In these territories, unlike neighboring lands, there really is a stable number of people. There are other settlements that are not constant. As a rule, they are created for scientific bases and meteorological stations.

In 2008, the number of people was more than two hundred. The ancestors of the modern inhabitants are immigrants who came here from 1816 to 1908, these are eight gentlemen (one from Scotland and Holland, and also two from England, Italy, America) and seven women (five of them were mulattoes, four grew St. Elena, one - Cape Town, and two more - Ireland).

Only seven last names are enough for this island. That's for sure you can say that all the inhabitants of the island - this is a single and friendly family.

The ruling government

The administrator is considered to be the person whom the governor appointed. The island of St. Helena is considered to be the main one concerning Tristan da Cunha. The administrator is the head of the Island Council, and the latter includes eleven people: eight of them are elected, and three are appointed.

The diet should include at least one female person. The one who receives maximum support in the electoral process, and will be called the Chief Islander. Tristan da Cunha minted his coins. 1 crown represents Queen Elizabeth II.

Connectivity

There are no permanent trips for passengers between the island territory and the land of the mainland. Access is possible if you get on a ship for fishing or on board a research ship. Boats coming from South Africa go to Tristan da Cunha once during a month period. We have room for travelers. Members of the expedition use air communication by helicopter. This place is far removed from the civilized world.

These lands were visited by the characters of the book written by Jules Verne. During the round-the-world trip "Captain Grant's Children" became guests of this island. They crossed the 370th parallel, looking for the missing encyclopedia, the owner of which was a navigator from Scotland.