Over the coming weeks, I will publish a series of short essays on remote islands that are as beautiful as they are distant. Reaching some of these islands takes more time than traveling to the moon! To visit these remote princesses of the seas, one must possess patience, courage to brave the most dangerous seas and hostile weather, and a humble heart, as your long, perilous voyage will lead you to a place of rugged, raw beauty.

Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha (TDC) is the most remote inhabited island in the world. Home to just 250 people, they reside in a village called Edinburgh of the Seven Seas—a name that might just be the coolest in the world!

Located in the middle of the southern Atlantic Ocean, TDC is far from nearly everything. It lies over 2,400 miles from Mar del Plata, Argentina; 2,166 miles from the Falkland Islands; and 1,500 miles west of Cape Town, South Africa—the most common departure point by ship to reach TDC. The journey from Cape Town takes about six days by ship.

The 13-km-wide island was first sighted in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha, but rough seas prevented him from landing. The first recorded landing occurred in 1643 by the crew of the Dutch East India Company aboard the Heemstede. The French corvette Heure du Berger and its crew conducted the first survey of the archipelago in 1767, and naturalist Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars led the first scientific exploration in 1793.

Settlement attempts began in the early 19th century, but the first successful permanent community was established in 1817. Today, TDC is part of the British Overseas Territories.

TDC is the emerged summit of a volcano that erupted in 1961, forcing the island’s evacuation. The highest point on the island, Queen Mary’s Peak, stands at 2,060 meters.

Because of their extreme isolation, the inhabitants of TDC have formed a close-knit community with a strong sense of self-reliance. They have built and maintain some self-sufficiency through gardening, cattle, and fishing. TDC’s economy depends on fishing and some tourism, which is highly regulated and controlled to prevent outsiders from disrupting TDC’s fragile ecosystem.

Despite its remote location, TDC has modern communication facilities, including internet access, but the island still faces challenges such as limited resources, dependence on imports, and potential natural disasters.

TDC has a cool oceanic climate with strong westerly winds. Temperatures are mild, with average highs around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F). The island is home to several endemic plant and animal species, like the critically endangered Tristan Albatross.

The surrounding waters are rich in marine life, making TDC an exciting destination for fishing and diving enthusiasts.