Edinburgh of the Seven Seas

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
"The Settlement"

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Coordinates: 37°4′2.2″S 12°18′36″W / 37.067278°S 12.31000°W / -37.067278; -12.31000
Sovereign state United KingdomUnited 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 (2016)
 • Total 268
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
Area code(s) +44

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 other 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, who was 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 an oceanic climate (Cfb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with temperatures heavily moderated by the ocean.

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)
Average 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

Transport

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.

Local government

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

Government services

The town is home to the island's emergency services, which comprise one ambulance (a Toyota Hilux operated by Camogli Hospital), one fire engine (a Land Rover Defender with a small ladder) and one police car (Land Rover Series).[8]

The town administration also has a vehicle for official use.[8]

Places of interest and attractions

Most buildings in town are single story, with the largest being the factory and the tallest being St Joseph's Church.

References

  1. ↑ Saint Helena Independent 25 March 2011 p. 3
  2. ↑ "Tristan da Cunha Settlement of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  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 HMS Galatea. Tristan da Cunha post office issued four stamps in 1967 to celebrate the centenary of this visit.
  4. ↑ "Tristan da Cunha's Calshot Harbour". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Climate Data". climatetemp.info. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Tristan da Cunha Visitor Excursions". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "The Tristan Times Newspaper – News from Tristan da Cunha". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 "Tristan da Cunha Land Transport News". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Olav's Tristanian number plates – Photographed in Tristan da Cunha". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. ↑ http://capital.osd.wednet.edu/media/capital/library/pdf/tristan_da_cunha.pdf
  11. 1 2 "Tristan Churches". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Tristan School". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Camogli Hospital Tristan da Cunha". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Tristan da Cunha's Calshot Harbour". Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  15. 1 2 http://www.tristandc.com/shops.php
  16. ↑ "Tristan Fishing". Retrieved 30 January 2016.

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

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