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Saint Helena

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Saint Helena is a tropical, volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Saint Helena Island
Saint Helena Island

It sits far west of the African mainland. The closest nations to its southeastern coast are Angola and Namibia. The island is also located east of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

LocationStHelena
LocationStHelena

It is part of a British overseas territory. This group includes two other places called Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

For a long time, the island had no people living on it.

Saint Helena Island
Saint Helena Island

Portuguese explorers found the island in the 1500s. One tradition says João da Nova saw it in 1502.

Joao da Nova
Joao da Nova

Other stories suggest it was found in 1503 or even 1511. The island was a very important stop for ships. These ships traveled between Europe and Asia by sailing around Africa. Sailors used the island to find fresh water and food.

Different groups of people have controlled the island over time. The Portuguese used it as a place to rest and find supplies. Later, the Dutch Republic claimed the island in 1633. In 1657, Oliver Cromwell gave the East India Company a charter to rule it.

Thornton, St Helena
Thornton, St Helena

The company began to settle the island with farmers. They built a fort and a town called Jamestown.

St-Helena-Jamestown-from-above
St-Helena-Jamestown-from-above

This town sits in a narrow valley between steep cliffs.

Saint Helena is famous for a very important person named Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon sainthelene
Napoleon sainthelene

He was a leader from France who lost a big battle called Waterloo in 1815. After his defeat, he was sent to live on the island in exile. He lived there for six years until he died.

Longwood House (16311222817)
Longwood House (16311222817)

This makes the island a very well-known place in world history.

Today, Saint Helena is one of the most remote islands in the world.

St-Helena-Jamestown
St-Helena-Jamestown

Very few people live there. The 2021 census showed a population of 4,439 people.

1984, Jamestown, St Helena Island. New Governor
1984, Jamestown, St Helena Island. New Governor

Most visitors reach the island by flying into its airport.

First Comair Boeing 737-800 flight to Saint Helena Airport (191)
First Comair Boeing 737-800 flight to Saint Helena Airport (191)

You can also reach it by using cargo ships. It remains a unique place with a very long story.

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🖼️ Images & Media (24)
United States Navy Band - God Save the Queen.ogg
File:Joao da Nova.jpg
Joao da Nova.jpg
File:Thornton, St Helena.jpg
Thornton, St Helena.jpg
File:Napoleon sainthelene.jpg
Napoleon sainthelene.jpg
File:Longwood House (16311222817).jpg
Longwood House (16311222817).jpg
File:Review of reviews and world's work (1890) (14761208986).jpg
Review of reviews and world's work (1890)...
File:1984, Jamestown, St Helena Island. New Governor.jpg
1984, Jamestown, St Helena Island. New...
File:LocationStHelena.PNG
LocationStHelena.PNG
File:Saint Helena Island.jpg
Saint Helena Island.jpg
File:Districts of St Helena.svg
Districts of St Helena.svg
File:St-Helena-Jamestown-from-above.jpg
St-Helena-Jamestown-from-above.jpg
File:St-Helena-Jamestown.jpg
St-Helena-Jamestown.jpg

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