Friday, March 6, 2009

The world's most remote civilization: Tristan da Cunha


Tristan Da Cunha is a small island chain in the South Atlantic Ocean about 2800 miles west of South Africa...

The first permanent settler on the island was actually from Salem, Massachusetts! No outsiders are allowed to buy land or settle on Tristan... pretty insane how isolated this place is. The islanders own their land and livestock for eating and it's regulated so the pasture land is conserved and the more well off families don't accumulate too much wealth....
I think its very fascinating to learn how a place like this survives. The population of the island is 271... YIKES! It is thought that the current population has descended from 15 original settlers. These people share only 7 last names....

Kids leave school @ 15... I wouldn't stay in school either.. it's not like they have anywhere to go afterwards.... Serious crime on the island is unknown. Unemployment is virtually non-existent.

Places like these fascinate me. I want to visit this place someday but it might be hard considering there is no airport and you have to somehow arrange a visit by boat from Capetown... good luck! Anyone want to send me?

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