
Tristan da Cunha
Territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Legal breakdown by identity
Learn about Tristan da Cunha
Beyond the scoreLearn about Tristan da Cunha.Official names, languages, local time and practical context for understanding Tristan da Cunha beyond its legal score.
Destination overview
About Tristan da Cunha.
The World's Most Remote Island
Tristan da Cunha sits in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, over 2,400 kilometres from the nearest continent. Reaching this volcanic archipelago requires a multi-day sea voyage from Cape Town, making the journey itself part of the adventure. Fewer than 300 people call the main island home, living in the sole settlement of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas beneath the snow-dusted peak of Queen Mary's Peak.
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Volcanic Landscapes and Wildlife
Queen Mary's Peak rises to over 2,000 metres and dominates the island skyline. The surrounding waters teem with life, from rockhopper penguins and yellow-nosed albatrosses to sub-Antarctic fur seals hauled out on black volcanic beaches. Nearby Gough Island and Inaccessible Island are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, protecting some of the most important seabird colonies on the planet.
Island Life and Community
Life on Tristan revolves around farming, fishing and a strong sense of community. All land is communally owned, and the island's crayfish industry sustains the local economy. Visitors are welcomed with genuine warmth but should plan carefully, as supply ships call only a handful of times each year and weather can delay landings for days.
Tristan da Cunha on Film
Dramatic cliffs, windswept grasslands and the vast open ocean make Tristan da Cunha an extraordinary backdrop for film and photography. Documentarians have long been drawn to the island's isolation, capturing the rhythms of a community shaped by one of the harshest yet most beautiful environments on Earth.
Official name
- Tristan da Cunha (English)
Region
- African Atlantic Ocean
Continent
- Africa
Total population
243
2021 data
Capital
- Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Currencies
- Saint Helena Pound (SHP · SH£)
- Pound Sterling (GBP · £)
Driving side
- left side of the road
Electricity
Language
English
Official in practice · ISO 639-3: eng
Current time and time zone
Greenwich Mean TimeGMT
Atlantic/St_Helena