Inaccessible Island

Inaccessible Island is a small volcanic island in the South Atlantic that belongs to the Tristan da Cunha group and rises sharply from the ocean through steep cliff faces. The summit reaches over 500 meters above sea level, while the entire coastline consists of sheer rock walls that make landing extremely difficult in most weather conditions.

A Dutch navigator reached the island for the first time in 1656 during an expedition for the Dutch East India Company and recorded its existence. In 1938, the territory was declared a nature reserve together with neighboring islands to protect the endemic species living there.

The territory forms part of the British overseas administration of Tristan da Cunha, positioned 2,810 kilometers away from Cape Town.

Any visit requires official permission from the Tristan da Cunha administration and a place on one of the rare ships traveling to this remote area. The only landing spot is located at a narrow pebble beach on the northwest coast, accessible only in calm sea conditions.

The island is home to several bird species found nowhere else on Earth, including the Inaccessible rail, a small flightless bird. Despite the small area, there is also an endemic thrips species that lives exclusively in the feathers of this rail.

Location: Tristan da Cunha

Elevation above the sea: 511 m

Website: http://uclan.ac.uk/ldu/resources/accessibility/island

GPS coordinates: -37.30250,-12.67444

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:50