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Ascension Island

Ascension Island
Flag of Ascension Island
Coat of arms of Ascension Island
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: "God Save the Queen"
Location of Ascension Island
Capital
and largest settlement
Georgetown
7°56′S 14°25′W / 7.933°S 14.417°W / -7.933; -14.417
Official languages English
Part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Government appointed Administrator
• Queen
Elizabeth II
• Governor
Lisa Phillips
Marc Holland
Establishment
• First inhabited
1815
• Dependency of St Helena
12 September 1922
1 September 2009
Area
• Total
88 km2 (34 sq mi) (219th)
• Water (%)
0
Population
• 2010 estimate
880
Currency Saint Helena pound
(US$ accepted)
(SHP)
Time zone GMT (UTC​)
Drives on the left
Calling code +247
ISO 3166 code SH-AC
Internet TLD .ac

UK Postcode: ASCN 1ZZ

Coordinates: 7°56′S 14°22′W / 7.933°S 14.367°W / -7.933; -14.367

Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) from the coast of Africa and 2,250 kilometres (1,400 mi) from the coast of Brazil, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa. It is governed as part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, of which the main island, Saint Helena, is around 1,300 kilometres (800 mi) to the southeast. The territory also includes the sparsely populated Tristan da Cunha archipelago, some 3,730 kilometres (2,300 mi) to the south, about halfway to the Antarctic Circle.

The island is named after the day of its recorded discovery, Ascension Day. It played a role as an important safe haven and coaling station to mariners and for commercial airliners during the days of international air travel by flying boats. During World War II it was an important naval and air station, especially providing antisubmarine warfare bases in the Battle of the Atlantic. Ascension Island was garrisoned by the British Admiralty from 22 October 1815 to 1922.


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