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Edinburgh of the Seven Seas "The Settlement"
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas skyline
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
• Total	302
Time zone	UTC+0 (GMT)
Area code	+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.

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is regarded as the most remote permanent settlement on Earth, being 1,350 miles (2173 kilometres) 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.

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.

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.

Transportation

There is one road, M1, which connects the town with Patches and is used by the few private cars on the island. 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) is available to pensioners in town to travel to places around the island.

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

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.

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).

The town administration also has a vehicle for official use.

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

• St Mary's Anglican Church - built 1923
• St. Joseph's Catholic Church - built 1995-1996 and replaced earlier church from 1983
• St Mary's School - built 1975
• Camogli Hospital - built in 1971 to replace Station Hospital (c. 1940s)
• Calshot Harbour - built 1967
• Prince Philip Hall and The Albatross Bar
• Tristan Thatched House Museum
• Agriculture Department warehouse
• Tristan Island Store - only supermarket on the island
• Tristan Post Office, Tourism Centre and Café da Cunha - opened 2009
• Administration Building - home to Island Council
• Crayfish Canning Factory- built 1963
• Park 61 - volcanic park site

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

• Description of the settlement
• Tourism Information

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

• Tristan da Cunha
• Populated places established in 1816
• Populated places in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha