Hidden away in the middle of the South Atlantic lies a small island widely considered to be the world’s most remote, measuring just 38 square miles and home to around 239 people. The nearest continental land to the island is South Africa, which sits a whopping 1,491 miles away, while the Brazilian capital Rio De Janeiro is an incredible 2,077 miles away.
Tristan da Cunha, colloquially Tristan, is a volcanic island that forms part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. According to National Geographic, it is the “island at the end of the world”. Its territory consists of the inhabited main island, the wildlife reserves of Gough and Inaccessible Island and the smaller, uninhabited Nightingale Islands. Those living on the main island all carry British Overseas Territories citizenship.
As there is no airstrip on the island, the only way to or from Tristan is by ship. The journey takes six days and departs from Cape Town, while some cruises depart from Ushuaia in Argentina.
The islands were first recorded as sighted in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha, however, rough seas prevented them landing. He believed them to be uninhabited and named the main island after himself, Ilha de Tristão da Cunha. It was later anglicised to Tristan da Cunha Island. The UK’s relationship, meanwhile, 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.
Tristan’s local shopping needs are provided by the Supermarket and the Post Office and Tourism Centre. The world’s remotest pub is the Albatross Bar, situated in Prince Philip Hall on Tristan da Cunha.
Life on Tristan is simple, and family life remains at the heart of the community. 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. Those who live on the island make a living by farming and fishing, while the island’s main export is lobster.
According to the UK Foreign Office, credit and debit cards are not accepted on Tristan da Cunha. There is one bank where you can exchange money, but the supply is not guaranteed. British pounds, euros, US dollars and South African rand are all accepted in cash.
However, Tristan’s population is slowly declining as the younger generation is increasingly choosing to leave the island and never return.
There are more penguins than people on Tristan, with a large population of Northern Rockhopper penguins. Incredibly, around 90% of the world’s population breed within the archipelago. There are also many other bird species on the islands, including Albatrosses Great Shearwaters and land birds like the Tristan Thrush.