GEORGETOWN, ASCENSION ISLAND
We left St. Helena and traveled 800 miles north in the Atlantic to a British dependency and one of the most remote places in the world: Ascension Island. It is located between South America and Africa along the mid-Atlantic undersea volcanic ridge. It is a stark volcanic island with very little vegetation. Because there is no harbor to accommodate large vessels, we were anchored off shore and had to be tendered in.The ocean was somewhat rough with 6 foot waves and it took some maneuvering to dock on the small pier.
Ascension Island came to international notice during the Falklands war when it served as a staging post for the British forces en route to and from the Falklands. Today it serves as a communications missile and satellite tracking station, the British and U.S. have intelligence information stations here as well as the BBC and the British and U.S. air forces. The population is about 1000 people, most of which are here on a 2 year contract, there are very few permanent residents. There is an airfield built in 1942 by US Army Engineers.
Postage stamps are the main source of income, much sought after by collectors. There is a small hotel but because of the island’s remoteness, there is not much tourism.
The island is also known for its Green Sea turtles. Thousands of these turtles travel 1200 miles annually from South America to lay their eggs here and then return to South America. We walked on one of the few beautiful beaches and found turtle prints, this is the egg laying season which happens at night. The eggs looks like white golf balls.
At 4 p.m. we set sail in a northerly direction in the Atlantic Ocean for Devil’s Island, French Guiana. We will be at sea for 4 days.
We left St. Helena and traveled 800 miles north in the Atlantic to a British dependency and one of the most remote places in the world: Ascension Island. It is located between South America and Africa along the mid-Atlantic undersea volcanic ridge. It is a stark volcanic island with very little vegetation. Because there is no harbor to accommodate large vessels, we were anchored off shore and had to be tendered in.The ocean was somewhat rough with 6 foot waves and it took some maneuvering to dock on the small pier.
Ascension Island came to international notice during the Falklands war when it served as a staging post for the British forces en route to and from the Falklands. Today it serves as a communications missile and satellite tracking station, the British and U.S. have intelligence information stations here as well as the BBC and the British and U.S. air forces. The population is about 1000 people, most of which are here on a 2 year contract, there are very few permanent residents. There is an airfield built in 1942 by US Army Engineers.
Postage stamps are the main source of income, much sought after by collectors. There is a small hotel but because of the island’s remoteness, there is not much tourism.
The island is also known for its Green Sea turtles. Thousands of these turtles travel 1200 miles annually from South America to lay their eggs here and then return to South America. We walked on one of the few beautiful beaches and found turtle prints, this is the egg laying season which happens at night. The eggs looks like white golf balls.
At 4 p.m. we set sail in a northerly direction in the Atlantic Ocean for Devil’s Island, French Guiana. We will be at sea for 4 days.
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