Saint Helena
Introduction Saint Helena
Background: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough Island has a meteorological station.
Geography Saint Helena
Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between
South America and Africa
Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 42 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 410 sq km note: includes St. Helena Island, Ascension,
and the island group of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan da
Cunha Island, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three Nightingale
Islands water: 0 sq km land: 410 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km