Saint Helena

Saint Helena
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Loyal and Unshakeable"
Anthem: "God Save the Queen" "My Saint Helena Island" (unofficial)
Map of Saint Helena
Location of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Capital	Jamestown 15°56′S 005°43′W / 15.933°S 5.717°W / -15.933; -5.717
Largest settlement	Half Tree Hollow 15°56′0″S 5°43′12″W / 15.93333°S 5.72000°W / -15.93333; -5.72000
Official languages	English
Demonym	Saint Heleniana
Part of	Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Government	Non-partisan democracy
• Monarch	Elizabeth II
• Governor	Lisa Phillips
Establishment
• Charter granted	1657
• Colonised by the East India Company	1659
• Crown colony (Company rule ends)	22 April 1834
• Current constitution	1 September 2009
Area
• Total	121 km2 (47 sq mi)
Population
• 2016 (Feb) census	4,534
• Density	37.5/km2 (97.1/sq mi)
Currency	Saint Helena pound (SHP)
Time zone	GMT (UTC​)
Drives on the	left
Calling code	+290
ISO 3166 code	SH-HL
Internet TLD	.sh
Or simply "Helenian". Informally, the islanders are also referred to as "Saints". UK Postcode: STHL 1ZZ

Saint Helena (/ˌseɪnt həˈliːnə/ SAYNT-hə-LEE-nə) is a volcanic tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean, 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro and 1,950 kilometres (1,210 mi) west of the Cunene River, which marks the border between Namibia and Angola in southwestern Africa. It is part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena measures about 16 by 8 kilometres (10 by 5 mi) and has a population of 4,534 (2016 census). It was named after Saint Helena of Constantinople.

The island, one of the most remote islands in the world, was uninhabited when discovered by the Portuguese in 1502. It was an important stopover for ships sailing to Europe from Asia and South Africa for centuries. Napoleon was imprisoned there in exile by the British, as were Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo (for leading a Zulu army against British rule) and more than 5,000 Boers taken prisoner during the second Boer War.