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Tristan da Cunha  Tristan da Cunha consists of a group of volcanic islands situated on the Walvis ridge, just off the mid-Atlantic ridge at latitude 39° south and longitude 12° west. Tristan, the main island is a near perfect volcanic cone approximately 6,700 feet high. Other neighbouring islands include Nightingale Island, and Inaccessible Island, both approximately 25 miles distant.
The islands were discovered in 1506 by the Portugese admiral Tristao da Cunha, whose name the islands now bear. Being near to the trade winds, and with a fresh water supply, it was a regular stopping point for ships prior to the age of steam.
There are approximately 300 inhabitants. The original settlers were soldiers from a British garrison placed on the island in 1816 with the stated aim of preventing the French using the island as a base to rescue Napoleon who was then in exile on St. Helena following his defeat in the battle of Waterloo the previous year. Over the next century or so they were joined by settlers from St. Helena, Ireland, Holland, Italy, and the United States. To this day there are only eight surnames on the island, one of those having 'joined' in 1986. The island is one of the few remaining British colonies, being a dependency of St. Helena. The settlement on Tristan is known as Edinburgh, named after a previous Duke of Edinburgh, and is situated on a small coastal plain beneath 2000 foot cliffs. The majority of the island, however, is mountainous with dense fern bushes at lower levels, and volcanic cinders at the higher levels. Like all good volcanoes it has a summit crater, frozen in winter, and merely very cold in summer - swimming not recommended.Fishing, in particular for crayfish, and the sale of stamps provide the main source of income for the islanders. In addition they keep sheep, cattle and the occasional pig, and grow vegetables, mainly potatoes. Ships with supplies, mainly from Cape Town, call at regular but infrequent intervals, on average every three months but more often in the summer.  The most dramatic event in the recent history of Tristan occurred in 1961, when an eruption occurred just by the settlement. The islanders were evacuated and lived near Southampton, England for two years before returning in 1963. The resulting volcano is about 400 feet high and was still warm, when I was there. I have been assured by geologists that this was a good sign.
The flora and fauna, is as would be expected in such an isolated place, unusual. The coastal 'plain' has been largely given over to grass, although some imported New Zealand flax is grown. The middle zones of the mountain are covered by dense tree ferns. Little grows more than a few feet in height owing to the strong winds. Indigenous animals have to either fly or swim there. Of the flying varieties albatrosses are the most spectacular, Yellow Nosed, Sooty and Wandering Albatrosses can be seen although only the former two still nest on Tristan itself - Wandering Albatrosses do nest on Inaccessible Island. Numbers have declined due to their vulnerability whilst on the nest - the only form of defence is vomiting - and subsequent input into the islanders 'food chain'. Rock Hopper penguins, Antarctic Terns are also common, as is the Antarctic Skua. Inaccessible island is the home to a very unusual flightless rail, while Nightingale island a major breeding ground of the Great Shearwater.
I was fortunate enough to spend a year on the island as Medical Officer, in 1984-1985. This was an unforgettable experience, although the isolation and meant that a year was probably long enough. The spectacular scenery, magnificent fresh fish and seafood, and the unique laid-back nature of Tristan life made a great contrast to life in the UK. It is now possible to email the island (hmg@cunha.demon.co.uk). In 1997 I had the pleasure of a visit from my God-daughter Maria Green whom I delivered during my stay on the island.
Due to the infrequency of shipping, visiting Tristan is time consuming and logistically difficult. From the UK perhaps the easiest is on the RMS St Helena which visits the island once a year, my parents were able to visit us on the RMS at the end of my stay. The trip also takes in Ascension and St Helena, it should be noted that disembarking does require some agility |
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