Overseas territory of the UK | |
Anthem: God Save the Queen | |
Coordinates: 7°56′S 14°22′W / 7.933°S 14.367°WCoordinates: 7°56′S 14°22′W / 7.933°S 14.367°W | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Overseas territory | Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha |
Island | Ascension |
Capital | Georgetown |
First inhabited | 1815 |
Current constitution | 2009 |
Named for | Ascension Day |
Government | |
• Type | Monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
• Governor | Mark Capes |
• Administrator of Ascension Island | Colin Wells |
Area | |
• Total | 88 km2 (34 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 859 m (2,818 ft) |
Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Population | |
• Estimate (2010) | 880 |
• Density | 10/km2 (30/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
Internet TLD | .ac |
Currency | Saint Helena pound (SHP) (US$ accepted) |
Website | www.ascension-island.gov.ac |
Ascension Island is an isolated and relatively young volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean, some 100 km (62 mi) west of the mid-Atlantic Ridge, 1,504 km (935 mi) from Liberia (Cape Palmas), and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) from Brazil (Recife). The nearest land is Saint Helena, 1,296 km (805 mi) to the south-east.