Ascension (island), part of the
British dependency of St Helena (which also includes St Helena and the Tristan da Cunha group),
in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is situated midway between Africa and South America and
700 miles north-west of St Helena. The small, volcanic island, with an area of 88 sq km,
was sighted by the Portuguese in 1501, but it was uninhabited until the exile of Napoleon
to St Helena in 1815, when the British established a garrison here to guard against his
escape. In 1922 the island was annexed to St Helena. It was a refuelling base for United
States aircraft in World War II. A large numbers of sea turtles and sooty terns
breed on the island. Georgetown is the main settlement.
Cunha group),
in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is situated midway between Africa and South America and
700 miles north-west of St Helena. The small, volcanic island, with an area of 88 sq km,
was sighted by the Portuguese in 1501, but it was uninhabited until the exile of Napoleon
to St Helena in 1815, when the British established a garrison here to guard against his
escape. In 1922 the island was annexed to St Helena. It was a refuelling base for United
States aircraft in World War II. A large numbers of sea turtles and sooty terns
breed on the island. Georgetown is the main settlement.