Background: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502 the island was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It became famous as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821.
Climate: Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine mild tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain: Saint Helena - rugged volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Geography Note: harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats including the speaker 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
Economy overview: The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK which amounted to about $5 million in 1998. The local population earns income from fishing the raising of livestock and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas.
Exports: $704,000 (f.o.b. 1995) Commodities: fish (frozen canned and salt-dried skipjack tuna) coffee handicrafts Partners: South Africa UK
Imports: $14.434 million (c.i.f. 1995) Commodities: food beverages tobacco fuel oils animal feed building materials motor vehicles and parts machinery and parts Partners: UK South Africa
Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000) 6.180 (1999) 0.6037 (1998) 0.6047 (1997) 0.6403 (1996) 0.6335 (1995); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound