Ascension Island - Tristan da Cunha - St Helena - Explore and Travel

Tristan da Cunha, often called the world's loneliest island, and one of the most popular stamp and postal history collecting areas, was brought to the world's attention as recently as 1961 when smoke began pouring out of a volcano near Edinburgh, the island's only village . Ships were diverted to the island for emergency evacuation of the 300 islanders. Later, the modern world proved to be a weak magnet to the islanders, who, after the return of geological peace to Tristan da Cunha, voted nearly unanimously to return home.

Descendant of Colony's Founder of Tristan Da Cunha Islander with Pet Collie Photographic Print

Mydans, Carl

18 in. x 24 in.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa, and from the coast of South America which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa. It is governed as part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha,The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009, see "EXPLANATORY NOTE" of which the main island, Saint Helena, is to the southeast, and the territory also includes the "remotest populated archipelago" on earth, the sparsely populated Tristan da Cunha archipelago some thirty degrees farther south?about half the way to the Antarctic Circle.

The Island is named after the day of its recorded discovery, Ascension Day, and is located at , about as far south of the equator as tropical Venezuela is to its north. Historically, it has played a role as an important safe haven and coaling station to mariners and for commercial airliners during the days of international air travel by flying boats and during World War II was an important naval and air station, especially providing antisubmarine warfare bases in the Battle of the Atlantic and throughout the war.Victory at Sea (Series title), Volume-10 "Beneath the Southern Cross" 1952 production of NBC, (Disc 2 of DVD collection reproduction ca. 2007-2008)

Ascension Island was garrisoned by the British Admiralty from 22 October 1815 to 1922.

The island is the location of Wideawake Airfield, which is a joint facility of the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force, a European Space Agency rocket tracking station, and the BBC World Service Atlantic Relay Station. The island was used extensively by the British military during the Falklands War. Ascension Island hosts one of five ground antennae (others are on Kwajalein Island, Diego Garcia, Colorado Springs and Hawaii) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational system.

Ascension Island, as a part of the wider overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, does not yet have its own flag or coat of arms. The Union Flag and Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom are used instead.