Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the
world lying 2,778 km west of Cape Town and 3,947km from South
America.
Size
An area of 178 sq km. The Tristan da Cunha group comprises six
islands, including Tristan da Cunha and the neighbouring islands of
Nightingale, Inaccessible and Gough.
Climate
The climate is cool temperate oceanic but varies between
islands. Mean annual temperatures vary similarly and range
from 14.5˚C to 11.3˚C.
Topography
The islands are volcanic, the central peak in Tristan rises to
2,060m above sea level.
Biodiversity
At least 212 plant taxa have been recorded, including 35 native
ferns (half of which are endemic) and 58 indigenous flowering
plants (of which 27 are endemic). Alien species make up the
rest. Seals are the only native breeding mammals. The islands
support unique indigenous land-birds, including the Gough bunting
and the rare Inaccessible rail, the smallest flightless bird in the
world. Millions of seabirds, such as yellow-nosed albatross and
great shearwater, breed - as do fur seals and elephant seals.
Fourteen of Tristan’s bird species are of global concern including
the critically endangered Tristan Albatross (Diomedea
dabbenena).
Main economic activities
The island relies on income from fishing and stamp and coin
sales.
Other information
The Tristan da Cunha group comprises four islands; the main
island of Tristan da Cunha, the neighbouring islands of Nightingale
(with two islets, Stoltenhoff and Alex), Inaccessible, and Gough
Island approximately 380km to the south-east. Tristan da Cunha
forms part of the UK Overseas Territory of St Helena, Ascension and
Tristan da Cunha. The Settlement of Edinburgh of the Seven
Seas in the northwest of the main island of Tristan is its only
permanently inhabited area. Gough and Inaccessible islands are a
World Heritage Site. Population – 275.