Saint Helena

Saint Helena emerges from the South Atlantic as a volcanic island with steep cliffs rising to 818 meters at Diana's Peak. Subtropical waters surround the highlands, which are covered with green hills, narrow valleys, and a single small coastal town called Jamestown.

Portuguese sailors found the uninhabited island in 1502 during a voyage to India. It became a key stopover for the British East India Company from 1658, supplying ships on the route between Europe and Asia.

Locals gather in Jamestown on Saturday mornings to catch up on news and share stories in their distinctive dialect. Fishermen still bring in catches by hand and invite visitors to watch as they clean the day's haul on the wharf.

A weekly flight from South Africa connects the territory to the outside world, and local taxis take visitors along winding mountain roads. Most routes follow narrow lanes that snake through steep hillsides, so plan for slow travel times.

A Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan has lived at Plantation House since 1882 and holds the record as the oldest known land animal. Visitors can tour the grounds on weekends and see the animal up close, which has outlived several human generations.

Location: Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Inception: 1659

Capital city: Jamestown

Elevation above the sea: 818 m

Website: https://sainthelena.gov.sh

GPS coordinates: -15.96907,-5.71295

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:24