Azores

This time a little bit more personal.
It was very hard for me to put any information about project or Tristan da Cunha Islands because of my other trip. I needed to work hard and after this, prepared everything for more than two months away from home. But I reached Graciosa (one of Azores Islands) couple days ago, now I am in Pico, where I will be staying for the next days and hopefully, I find a home to stay. I was already in Azores two years ago and a year ago. The trip year ago was an amaizing thing. Also two months, switching islands, meeting new people... That what makes my heart beating! That is why, I would really like to go to Tristan da Cunha.
I have met here, in Azores, Nilton. However, the funny story is, he's not here. So I'm from Poland and I'm in Azores, Nilton is from Azores and he's somewhere in Switzerland... But thanks to the Internet, we can be in touch. Besides other things, I will try to find sponsores here. Hopefully, having Nilton on board in this project will help!

So if you were interested in how looks Pico, one of the most beautiful Island of Azores (in my opinion) take a look what Nilton want to show you:

Also, for those who want to know how it is to travel alone in Azores, my personal blog In the middle of nowhere... 50 days in Azores


Sorry, for the off topic post, but I did not want to anyone think the project is over. Now when I'm away will be hard to share with you informations about Tristan da Cunha Islands. I will do my best, but I can't promise you will find any new post in next two months. Very sorry for that.

Inaccessible Island

Inaccessible Island, as the name says, is an inaccessible place. It got the names thanks to Captain d'Etchevery who could not reach the shore in 1778. Although, the island was visited by whalehunters or later by the residents of Tristan da Cunha it remains uninhabited. And this is the main reason why there is great, almost untouched by any mammals, biosystem. It is even on the UNESCO list (with Gough Island). 

source: tristandc.com

Like all islands in Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, Inaccessible Island was created due to voulcanic eruption. However, this place is not active anymore. The island is about 14 km² large and the highest point (Cairn Peak) reaches 449 m. It is possible to see Tristan da cunha Island from Inaccessible, but rather hard to see the little island from the main one. The distance between them is about 45 km. It was discovered 146 years after Tristan da Cunha by Jacobszoon (Dutch), so you can imagine it is not easy to find a little bit of land on the ocean.
The problem with reaching the shore is due to high, sharp cliffs. Most expeditions trying to landfall on the Island is somehow connected with science. On the boats are biologist, geologist, ornitologist, etc. Just from time to time the residents swim there to pick apples planted years ago by the German brothers who wanted to colonised the Island (in 1971- 1973). Everytime someone whan to visit this place has to go there with local guide.

The very special animal, which live only on Inaccessible Island, is the  Inaccessible Rail, the world's smallest living flightless bird. 

source: arcticphoto.co.uk

 This Island is important also for others birds. That is why it is protected as the Important Bird Area (IBA). Besids Rails it is a place for breeding site for Rockhoopers, Albatrosses, Petrels, Tristan Trushes (or Starchy) or Shearwaters.

All the information was taken from official webpage: tristandc.com and wikipedia.en

Whales

Whales can be seen even from Edinbourgh if they swim close to the land, mostly in the winter, between May to Decembre (depends on the species).In the summer whales migrate to the North. Sometimes, dead whales can be found on the shore - last time on January 2012. However, the best opportunity to see those mammals is to take a boat trip. It is simmilar how it works in Azores, with the exept for Tristan da Cunha is not very touristic place. Therefore the trips are not popular. To show you how it looks in Azores we upload the video from AzoresTODAY about it. Nilton took part in creating this:

 

 Whales Watching in Azores

Since 1937 whales are protected and it is prohibited to hunt them. Unfortunatelly, their population is still decreasing. Due to their size and weight they don't have many of natural enemies, generally just the killer whale. And human. Nowadays by polluting the ocean. What is interesting, iron from whales' feaces is about 10% of all iron in the South Ocean. Thanks to iron water is rich in phytoplancton, which absorb carbon dioxide. Whales are good! Don't distroy thier environment.

The best news!

Today is a great day! It is sunny (at least in North of Poland), warm, the birds are singing, grass is growing... and there is a big news from Tristan da Cunha:

They gave us the approval to visit their Island! 

Yupi!!!
The best message ever! ;-)