Tristan da Cunha: The ‘UK owned island’ 1,491 miles from other people | World | News
The ‘most remote island in the world’ is owned by the UK and is a crazy 1,491 miles from any other people.
Located in the middle of the South Atlantic lies Tristan da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory where seabirds outnumber people.
The UK’s relationship with the remote island dates back to 1816, when the British military took possession of it. The British government is responsible for the island’s defence, internal security, external relations, and public service.
There are a number of British Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic, these are: St Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the British Antarctic Territory.
Tristan da Cunha is estimated to be about 200,000 years old, born from volcanic activity of nearby islands. Its last volcanic eruption in October 1961 led to the evacuation of most of its inhabitants.
Home to 239 people as of June 28, 2024, Tristan da Cunha has been called the ‘island at the end of the world’ by National Geographic.
All residents live in a town called Edinburgh of the Seven Seas because it is the only piece of flat land anywhere on the island. There are no roads out of it because there is nowhere for them to go.
Family life is at the heart of the Island with the small community marking Christmas and the New Year with a variety of events. Other celebrations include Queen’s Day, which is Tristan’s village fête, and Ratting Day, when teams of men compete to rid the island of its troublesome rats.
Those who live on the island make a living by farming and fishing, while the island’s main export is lobster.
Tristan Da Cunha’s population is slowly dwindling further as the younger generation often choose to leave their tiny island and never come back.
To reach the island, the journey lasts seven days and there are two ways to get there – scheduled trips or expedition cruises.
Once you get there, you’ll have to stay a while until you’re able to get out on the next ship – which likely won’t be coming any time soon.
Far removed from civilisation the nearest continental land to the island is South Africa which is a whopping 1,491 miles away.
The closest mainland city is Cape Town in South Africa, 1,731 miles away, and it is from here that the island receives its supplies by cargo ships.While Brazilian capital Rio De Janeiro is an incredible 2,077 miles away.