Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic and consisting of the island of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and the archipelago of Tristan da Cunha.
Its name was Saint Helena and Dependencies until 1 September 2009, when a new constitution came into force giving the three islands equal status within the territory.[6] Despite this change, the whole territory is still commonly referred to as simply Saint Helena after its main island.[citation needed] Similarly, the demonym Saint Helenians (or “Saints”) and the derived name for the local nationality is commonly understood to include Ascension Islanders and Tristanians, as well.
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island, 7°56′ south of the Equator in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 mi) from the coast of Africa and 2,250 kilometers (1,400 mi) from the coast of Brazil. It is governed as part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, of which the main island, Saint Helena, is around 1,300 kilometers (800 mi) to the southeast. The territory also includes the sparsely-populated Tristan da Cunha archipelago, some 3,730 kilometers (2,300 mi) to the south, about halfway to the Antarctic Circle.
The island is named after the day of its recorded discovery, Ascension Day. It was an important safe haven and coaling station to mariners and for commercial airliners during the days of international air travel by flying boats. During World War II it was an important naval and air station, especially providing antisubmarine warfare bases in the Battle of the Atlantic. Ascension Island was garrisoned by the British Admiralty from 22 October 1815 to 1922.
The island is the location of RAF Ascension Island, which is a Royal Air Force station, a European Space Agency rocket tracking station, an Anglo-American signals intelligence facility, and the BBC World Service Atlantic Relay Station. The island was used extensively as a staging point by the British military during the Falklands War. Ascension Island hosts one of four ground antennas (others are on Kwajalein Island, Diego Garcia, and Cape Canaveral) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational system. NASA operates a Meter Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension Island for tracking orbital debris, which is potentially hazardous to operating spacecraft and astronauts, at a facility called the John Africano NASA/AFRL Orbital Debris Observatory.
In the February 2016 census, 806 people were recorded living on Ascension Island, 556 from Saint Helena (nicknamed the “Saints”) and 250 people of other nationalities.RAF Ascension Island is made up of 17 staff. There has never been an indigenous population on the island. To enter Ascension Island, individuals need the Administrator’s written permission. There are no permanent residents. A contract of employment is a requirement to stay on the island, though short term visits by tourists are possible with prior approval. The British government has confirmed that there is no “right of abode” on Ascension Island. As the local newspaper The Islander reported at the time, it was raised by some former Council members and 4 expatriate employees that whilst it was agreed there was no right of abode, the authorities had previously indicated it would consider changing the law to allow the rights of abode and property purchase, but decided not to do so.
addresses
N. Guem
27 Back St
Georgetown
ASCN 1ZZ
Ascension
N. Guem
27 Back St
Georgetown, Ascension
ASCN 1ZZ
South Atlantic Ocean
Besides the military and communications facilities, Ascension Island’s economy is supported by the sale of postage stamps. I do not know how mail enters or leaves the island.