Diana's Peak, Highest summit in Saint Helena
Diana's Peak is the highest point on Saint Helena, a volcanic island in the South Atlantic, reaching 818 metres (2,684 ft). It sits on a ridge with Mount Actaeon (814 m) and Cuckold's Point (815 m), the two lower summits topped by large Norfolk pines. Walking paths link the three peaks, and a nursery for endemic species lies on the northern slopes.
The name Pico de Diana already appeared on 17th-century Portuguese maps, before the British settled the island in 1659. The surrounding peaks were declared a national park in March 1996, the island's first; it was renamed The Peaks National Park in 2013. The summit marks the tripoint of Sandy Bay, Levelwood and Longwood districts.
The name Diana's Peak may refer to Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting, and appears as Pico de Diana on 17th-century Portuguese maps. The peaks are counted among the Seven Wonders of Saint Helena. A nursery on the northern slopes raises endemic species for replanting.
Paths link Diana's Peak with Mount Actaeon (814 m) and Cuckold's Point (815 m), so the summits can be combined in one walk. The nearest settlements are Bamboo Hedge, Hutt's Gate and Levelwood Village. A nursery for endemic species stands on the northern slopes.
Almost 400 invertebrate species have been recorded on the peaks, and more than half of them are endemic. The national park also once held three plants now extinct in the wild: Acalypha rubrinervis, Nesiota elliptica and Wahlenbergia roxburghii.
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