TRISTAN DA CUNHA

 TRISTAN DA CUNHA

    Tristan Da Cunha is the remote island in this world and has a small community of 270 islanders. Geographically Tristan da Cunha is the world's most isolated inhabited island, lying in the middle of the South Atlantic at 37°04' S, 12° 18' W, approximately equidistant between South Africa, South America and the Antarctic, and just east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Tristan is the largest of four islands that comprise the Tristan archipelago. It is roughly circular, 12km across with an area of 96km2 . Around 30km southwest of Tristan are the two smaller, uninhabited islands of Inaccessible (37°18' S, 12° 40' W) and Nightingale (37°25' S, 12° 29' W), which lie approximately 20 km apart . It is the part of British overseas territory.

TOP 10 FACTS ON TRISTAN ISLANDS:

1. Nearest inhabitated land is st. helena located 2400 kms(1350 miles)  to the north

    

2. The tristan islands are very unique of its successful colonization of terrestrial and marine based life form in entire south Atlantic region.

3.  More than 90 percent of world population of Northern Rockhopper Penguins breed in these islands.

 

             Northern Rockhopper Penguins

4.  MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA  a gaint kelps is abundant around the near surrounding underwaters of  tristan islands. these kelp forests are highly productive and supports marine life.

kelps

5.    These islands first discovered by portuguese admiral Tristao da cunha. He named main island after himself.

6.    During World War II, the tristan islands were served as a top secret Royal Navy Weather and radio station with a codename " HMS ATLANTIC ISLE", to monitor U Boats and German shipping activities in south atlantic ocean.

Inaugurating ceremony of HMS ATLANTIC

7.    Queen Mary's Peak is the highest point of British overseas territory of Saint helena,Ascension and tristan islands.

Queen's Mary Peak

8.  the first known attempt to climb this peak was by the french naturalist Louis-Marie Aubert du petit thouars ( unsuccessful)

Louis-Marie Aubert du petit thouars

9. The only way to travel to tristan is by ships that too from cape town which is 2810 kms away from it.
6 day journey 

10.  Tristan islands declared as the largest fully protected marine reserves in atlantic ocean in 2020