Edinburgh of the Seven Seas

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
"The Settlement"

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas skyline
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Coordinates: 37°4′2.2″S 12°18′36″W / 37.067278°S 12.31000°W
Sovereign state United Kingdom
British overseas territory  Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Island  Tristan da Cunha
First inhabited 1816
Named 1867
Founded by William Glass (British Army)
Capital of Tristan da Cunha
Population (2015)
 • Total 302
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
Area code(s) +290 8xxx

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the main settlement of the island of Tristan da Cunha, in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Locally it is always referred to as The Settlement or The Village.[1]

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is regarded as the most remote permanent settlement on Earth, being 2,173 kilometres (1,350 mi)[2] from the nearest human settlement, on Saint Helena.

History

The settlement was founded on the island of Tristan da Cunha in 1816 by a Sergeant Glass from the Borders of Scotland after the UK annexed Tristan da Cunha. A military garrison was maintained on the islands as a guard against any French attempts to rescue Napoleon, imprisoned on Saint Helena. The military garrison remained until the end of World War II.

It is named after Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria, in honour of his visit to the island in 1867.[3]

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the only major settlement of Tristan da Cunha, and contains a small port, the Administrator's residence, and the post office. It was damaged in a volcanic eruption on the island in 1961 which forced the entire population to abandon the settlement and evacuate to Calshot, Hampshire in the UK. The eruption destroyed the settlement's crayfish factory.

After the return of most of the islanders in 1963, the settlement was rebuilt. The harbour at Edinburgh was named Calshot Harbour, after their temporary home during the eruption.[4]

Geography

Climate

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas has a mild and humid oceanic climate (Cfb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with moderate temperatures throughout the year.

Climate data for Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 20
(68)		 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 18
(64)		 17
(63)		 15
(59)		 14
(57)		 14
(57)		 14
(57)		 15
(59)		 17
(63)		 19
(66)		 17
(62.6)
Average low °C (°F) 16
(61)		 17
(63)		 16
(61)		 15
(59)		 13
(55)		 11
(52)		 11
(52)		 10
(50)		 10
(50)		 11
(52)		 13
(55)		 15
(59)		 13.2
(55.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 93
(3.66)		 113
(4.45)		 121
(4.76)		 129
(5.08)		 155
(6.1)		 160
(6.3)		 160
(6.3)		 175
(6.89)		 169
(6.65)		 151
(5.94)		 128
(5.04)		 127
(5)		 1,681
(66.18)
Avg. rainy days 18 16 17 20 23 23 25 26 24 22 18 19 251
Mean monthly sunshine hours 139.5 142.8 145.7 129 108.5 99 105.4 105.4 120 133.3 138 130.2 1,496.8
Source: ClimaTemps.com[5]
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
93
 
 
20
16
 
 
113
 
 
21
17
 
 
121
 
 
20
16
 
 
129
 
 
18
15
 
 
155
 
 
17
13
 
 
160
 
 
15
11
 
 
160
 
 
14
11
 
 
175
 
 
14
10
 
 
169
 
 
14
10
 
 
151
 
 
15
11
 
 
128
 
 
17
13
 
 
127
 
 
19
15
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate and Temperature Information

Transportation

There is one road, M1, which connects the town with Patches and is used by the few private cars on the island.[6] Paved paths provide walking access to buildings around town. A bus service called Potato Patches Flier (using a 24-seat Isuzu mini school bus from South Africa[7]) is available to pensioners in town to travel to places around the island.[8]

All motor vehicles on the island have Tristan da Cunha plates consisting of letters TDC and 2 or 3 numbers.[9]

The town has a small harbour with berths accessible by small vessels only.

Gallery

Local government

The island's local affairs are managed by the Island Council, a 14 member administration that meets six times a year and elected every three years.[10]

Government services

The town is home to the island's emergency services with one ambulance (Toyota Hilux operated by Camogli Hospital), fire engine (Land Rover Defender with small ladder) and police car (Land Rover Series).[11]

The town administration also has a vehicle for official use.[12]

Places of interest and attractions

Most buildings in town are single story with the largest being the factory and tallest being St Joseph's michel bay

References

  1. ↑ Saint Helena Independent 25 March 2011 p. 3
  2. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/settlement.php
  3. ↑ Courtney, Nicholas (2004). The Queen's Stamps. ISBN 0-413-77228-4, page 28. The visit took place during the circumnavigation the Duke of Edinburgh did while commanding the HMS Galatea. Tristan da Cunha post office issued four stamps in 1967 to celebrate the centenary of this visit.
  4. ↑ Calshot Harbour
  5. ↑ "Climate Data". climatetemp.info. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  6. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/visitsexcursions.php
  7. ↑ http://www.tristantimes.com/art_4512_56_8_1.html
  8. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/newstransport.php
  9. ↑ http://www.olavsplates.com/tristan_da_cunha_abroad.html
  10. ↑ http://capital.osd.wednet.edu/media/capital/library/pdf/tristan_da_cunha.pdf
  11. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/newstransport.php
  12. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/newstransport.php
  13. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/churches.php
  14. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/churches.php
  15. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/school.php
  16. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/hospital.php
  17. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/harbour.php
  18. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/shops.php
  19. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/shops.php
  20. ↑ http://www.tristandc.com/economyfishing.php

External links

Coordinates: 37°04′S 12°19′W / 37.067°S 12.317°W