Island of St Helena History, Travel Information, Hotels, Fare, Facts And More
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PERSONAL INFORMATION
NAME
Island of St Helena
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
ADDRESS
South Atlantic Ocean
ISLAND OF ST HELENA PICTURE
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About Island of St Helena
Saint Helena is an island situated in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a British area consisting of a remote volcanic tropical island. The island area is spread in an area of 16 by 8 kilometers. It has a population of over 4500 according to 2016 census. The island was discovered by the Portuguese in the year 1502. Before that it was uninhabited. It is one of the most isolated islands in the world.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Island of St Helena
- The island is located at the distance of 1950 kilometers from southwestern Africa. It served as an important stop for the ships sailing to Europe from Asia and South Africa for many years.
- It is on the second rank among the oldest overseas territory of the United Kingdom, the first being Bermuda.
- The initial governor of the island was Captain John Dutton who reached the island in 1659. After which it became one of Britain's earliest colonies outside North America and the Caribbean.
- The island is the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled in 1815 after he escaped from Elba. He lived here at the Briars pavilion until his Longwood House was made in December 1815. The coffee of his place was liked by Napoleon due to this product became popular in Paris in the years after his death.
- The island was against the importation of slaves since 1792. They freed more than 800 resident slaves in 1827 which is much before the British government abolished slavery in the colonies.
- More than six thousand Boer prisoners were kept here at the time of the Second Anglo-Boer War including Piet Cronjé and his wife following their defeat in the Battle of Paardeberg.
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