A little bit of Geography - in a flash!

Tristan da Cunha Archipelago is located in South Atlantic. The nearest land is situeted about 2420 km to the North - it's St. Helena. The nearest continent is Africa, and Cape Town is the nearest city (about 2800 km away).

THE PAST
The islands were created due to the tectonic movments in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Like Iceland or Azores, which have the same geological history, Tristan da Cunha Islands have volcanic past. Actually, it should be said they have volcanic present, because there are still active volcanos. Between continent's plates, when they are moving away from each other, is being created a spreading zone. It is a place where magma is coming out from inside of the Earth and creating a new land (only in the oceans).

A quick scetch of forming an ocean ridge by Margarida

After years the 'highest' point is in a distance from the rift ('line' where the Earth's crust - Lithospere - is being pulled away). If it was 'lucky' enough it would stick out above the sea level. That how it was with Tristan da Cunha. After years denudation processes were insuficient to wash away the land and, what is more important, the volcano was still active and produced new lands around itself.


THE PRESENT
Volcanic ground is very ferticle, however it is hard to grow. Also the shape of the island, almost a perfect cone with no flats parts, causes difficulties for any of agricultural activity. Nevertheless, people was stubborn enough to settled there and make this place thier home. They started to breed cattle and they were hounthing for whales. The economy of this place where blooming. The little colony become a city. Besides Edinburgh of the Seven Seas there is no other cities or villages. The area of the largest island is 98 square km. The other islands are much smaller and there is no settelments. Only in Gough Island you can find a meteorological station, but it is not inhabitted for the whole year.

The higest point in the Queen Mary's Peak reach 2062 m above the seal level. It is almost all year in the clouds. Generally, the climate of the archipelago is soft but very wet. Also, in the winter, there is a snow at the peak. Because Tristan Islands are located on the southern hemisphere the winter is in July and August. The temperature changes from about 14 degrees (Celcius) in the winter up to about 20 in the summer. There is more precipitation in the winter, but still for over 70% of the summer days rain can be expected .The weather also impact if the ship can moor. The archipelago is the first and only obstacle for  air mass coming from the West. And in this part of the Earth there is a strong impact of the Western Winds and Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The weather can change very suddenly if there is even a little change in characteristics of weather (wind speed, humidity, temerature, etc.)
Thus, if you're palnning to visit this place check the weather and choose the best time for you!



Information from official webpage: tristandc.com and own knowladge from geography studies ;-)