How do people live on the most isolated island in the world? We set off to discover Tristán de Acuña!
The nearest human settlement is over 2,400 km away, while Cape Town, South Africa, the closest inhabited center to Tristan located on a continent, is 2,810 km away. In short, there is no more isolated place on Earth than this.
![The nearest human establishment is more than 2,400 km away, while Cape Town, South Africa, is the closest inhabited center to Tristan located on a continent, located 2,810 km away. In summary, there are no more isolated places on Earth than this one. The nearest human establishment is more than 2,400 km away, while Cape Town, South Africa, is the closest inhabited center to Tristan located on a continent, located 2,810 km away. In summary, there are no more isolated places on Earth than this one.](https://services.meteored.com/img/article/como-es-vivir-en-la-isla-mas-aislada-del-mundo-descubriendo-a-tristan-de-acuna-1722695039384_1024.jpg)
Tristan da Cunha (or Tristão da Cunha, as it is also called) is an archipelago of four islands located in the South Atlantic, including a main island with the same name. This archipelago is famous for being considered the most isolated human establishment on Earth.
The nearest human establishment is more than 2,400 km away, while Cape Town, South Africa, is the closest inhabited center to Tristan located on a continent, located 2,810 km away. In summary, there are no more isolated places on Earth than this one.
Characteristics of the island
Tristan Island is formed by an imposing volcano, 2,062 meters high. The territory is mountainous, with the exception of two plains, used for the cultivation of sweet potatoes. The main urban centre, called Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, is located along one of the two plains.
It was founded in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh, who visited the island in 1867, but among the inhabitants, it is simply known as the "establishment". The Gough and Nightingale Islands are uninhabited by humans.
How to get there?
Tristan's connections with the rest of the world are very limited. There are no airports or airstrips on the island, the construction of which would be difficult due to the shape of the territory, nor ports where large ships can dock.
Outside the most remote Island on the planet Tristan de Cunha #tristandecunha #silverseacruise pic.twitter.com/wNafKOOvDU
— Brian Ronan Mulroy (@rm_actor) March 24, 2022
The Edinburgh Seven Seas Marina, built in 1967 and expanded in 2008, only allows small boats to be moored. Therefore, ships often have to wait at sea for passengers, who are transported in small boats. A boat from South Africa arrives on the island every one or two weeks, but there are no other connections. In case of bad weather conditions (strong winds, rough sea), Tristan remains isolated for months.
The discovery in 1500
Tristán was first seen in 1506 by a Portuguese explorer, Tristão da Cunha, who gave it his name, which was then transformed into English into Tristan. The island remained uninhabited and remained so for many years. Between the 1600s and 1700s, it aroused the interest of the Dutch, who landed there several times to replenish their food, and was used as a base for whaling ships.
The population, after a brief attempt in 1810, began in 1815, when the United Kingdom decided to take possession of the island. The English, after defeating Napoleon Bonaparte, exiled him in Saint Helena. The Lovndon government feared that Tristan could be used as a base for possible attempts to liberate the former emperor and in November 1815, it sent about eighty people, partly military and partly civilian, to take possession of the island.
![The archipelago to which Tristan da Cunha belongs, in the South Atlantic. Image credit: Wikipedia. The archipelago to which Tristan da Cunha belongs, in the South Atlantic. Image credit: Wikipedia.](https://services.meteored.com/img/article/come-si-vive-nell-isola-piu-isolata-del-mondo-alla-scoperta-di-tristan-de-cunha-1718719700609_1024.png)
Almost all returned to their native country two years later, but four people decided to stay forever. In 1817, these few remaining inhabitants decided to create a rule according to which all the benefits of agriculture and fishing, the only economic activities of the island, would be distributed equally among all residents.
From that moment on, the real urban expansion began, and new people arrived on the island. There was a slow but steady increase in the population. The island also became a refuge for many shipwrecked, as was the case for the two Italians, Andrea Repetto and Gaetano Lavarello, from Camogli (Genoa), who remained in Tristan in 1892 after the sinking of the ship in which they were traveling.
Discover the Tristan da Cunha island in our latest #BCEarthGallery blog post! Learn about the active volcano, unique cloud formations, and the heart-shaped lake on Queen Mary's Peak. Don't miss this journey to one of Earth's most isolated inhabited places! https://t.co/j5KOsN4ndZ pic.twitter.com/4wbrAaJTtZ
— Brockmann Consult (@BrockmannCon) April 19, 2023
During the Second World War, the population exceeded 200 inhabitants, but in 1961, the eruption of the volcano forced the island to be completely evacuated. The inhabitants were transferred to Great Britain, but after two years, they decided to return to Tristan, repopulation it until today.
Today, more than 200 people live there
Today, 238 people live in Tristan, all belonging to 8 different families, two of whom are of Italian origin: Repetto and Lavarello. In addition to these 238 inhabitants, there are also specialized workers on the island, such as agronomists, teachers and, above all, doctors who work at the local hospital.
The island still suffers from isolation today, because all basic necessities, including medicines, only arrive by boat. In the event of prolonged isolation due to bad weather, the island finds itself without adequate supplies.