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Saint Helena
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Capital: Jamestown
Population: 6,059
Brief History of Saint Helena:
Saint Helena is a small British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is made up of three primary island groups including Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha, and the Ascension Islands. The islands were discovered by the Portuguese in the early 1500s.
Saint Helena is famous as the place where Napolean Bonaparte was exiled after he was defeated. He lived there from 1815 until he died in 1821. Ascension Island was used by the United States in World War II to support long flights over the Atlantic Ocean. Tristan da Cunha was named after the Portuguese navigator who discovered the island.
The Geography of Saint Helena
Total Size: 413 square km
Size Comparison: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Geographical Coordinates: Saint Helena: 15 57 S 5 42 W
World Region or Continent: Africa
General Terrain: the islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
Geographical Low Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geographical High Point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actae
Climate: Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Major cities: JAMESTOWN (capital) 1,000 (2009)
The People of Saint Helena
Type of Government: NA
Languages Spoken: English
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National Holiday: Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Nationality: Saint Helenian(s)
Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
National Symbol: Saint Helena plover (bird)
National Anthem or Song: note:?as a territory of the United Kingdom, God Save the Queen is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy of Saint Helena
Major Industries: construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, philatelic sales
Agricultural Products: coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster (on Tristan da Cunha)
Natural Resources: fish, lobster
Major Exports: fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts
Major Imports: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Currency: Saint Helenian pound (SHP)
National GDP: $18,000,000
** Source for population (2012 est.) and GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.
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