Ascension | island, Atlantic Ocean | Britannica.com island, Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Ascension, island in the South Atlantic Ocean , part of the British overseas territory of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. St. Helena is 700 miles (1,100 km) to the southeast of Ascension, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha is some 1,300 miles (2,100 km) south of St. Helena. The main settlement and the location of the island’s administrative headquarters is Georgetown. Islands off the western coast of Africa. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Except on the heights of Green Mountain (2,817 feet [859 metres]), where fruit, vegetables, and livestock are raised, the island is mostly a desert of dormant volcanic craters and extensive lava flows. There are no surface streams. Catchment basins constructed on Green Mountain in the 19th century yield some fresh water, but desalinization plants produce the bulk of the island’s water supply.

The sandy beaches, unprotected by coral reefs, are vulnerable to heavy oceanic swells but are critical nesting sites for the globally endangered green sea turtles, which come ashore to lay eggs between January and April. Sooty terns also breed in abundance. After the island’s feral cats were eradicated in the early 21st century, populations of other birds—including the masked booby , brown booby, and red-billed tropic bird but not the globally threatened native Ascension frigate bird—began recolonizing the island. Volcanic landscape, Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean. © kwest/Shutterstock.com Ascension was discovered by the Portuguese navigator João da Nova in 1501 and was rediscovered on Ascension Day 1503 by Afonso de Albuquerque . It remained uninhabited until 1815, however, when British marines were stationed there, during the exile of Napoleon I on St. Helena, to prevent the French from claiming the island. Ascension subsequently served as a frequent stop for ships sailing the South Atlantic in the 19th century.

It came under the supervision of the British Royal Marines in 1823 and in 1922 became a dependency of St. Helena. From 1922 until 2002, most governmental and economic administration was provided by the military and by various entities, including Cable & Wireless PLC (later acquired by another company and renamed Sure) and the British Broadcasting Corporation , which have continued to operate telecommunications facilities on the island. Other important presences have been the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration , the U.S. Air Force , the Royal Air Force (RAF), the European Space Agency , and British and American intelligence organizations. Similar Topics Ascension Island: remote South Atlantic | Sailing Totem Ascension Island: remote South Atlantic April 4, 2016 Uninhabited before it was encountered by Portuguese sailors in the 1500s, Ascension’s lonely position in the middle of, well, more or less nowhere in the South Atlantic made it a place of strategic importance since.

In the age of commerce under sail, it was a place to water up (once a source was found) and provision (initially by hunting green turtles, which nest in Ascension by the thousands; goats were left later, and farms cultivated). A British Overseas Territory, Ascension has never technically been settled, as St Helena has, but has hosted residents since the English installed garrisons in the early 1800s as a precaution against attempted escape by Napoleon from his nearby exile. The UK still has an RAF base , and staged for the Falklands War here. The US Air Force has a base, but US military presence has waxed and waned since building an airstrip- “ Wideawake ”- to support troops in North Africa during World War II. Now, it’s mainly useful as a military and communications hub. Ascension hosts one of five land-based antennae supporting the world’s GPS data that so many people rely up. The European Space Agency monitors their orbits from here. The BBC has a relay station here that transmits the British way of life to Africa and South America. What does all this mean? Well, there is a freakish amount of wire strung up.

Transmitting, of course, but it must be a pretty major listening station too. I’ve lost count of the radar domes. feral (yes, feral) sheep graze near some of the huge antennae structures on Ascension We won’t provision much because all that’s here now is either frozen, or isn’t very fresh (onions, potatoes, etc.). In many ways, ships visiting way back when had better meat and produce than we do today! But we thoroughly enjoy looking into the history of the island, exploring the desolate but strangely appealing landscape. Wideawake airfield among the cinder cones The museum is full of artifacts from the first centuries of Ascension’s discovery up through the modern era. It has the kind of random hours that speak to a volunteer organization (Monday evenings for two hours, Saturday mornings for two more), so we sneak in at the first opportunity as there are a few history buffs on Totem! Jamie is amazed that we can touch the bell that once hung in William Dampier’s ship Roebuck , which sank off Ascension more than three hundred years ago.

at least the 16th century china is under glass checking out the grounds atop old Fort Georgetown What do civilians do on a visit to Ascension? Go hiking! It pales next to the walks in St Helena, but still fun. The trick is transportation to reach them, but it was only about $25 to rent a car for the day, so off we went. We hiked to the summit of Green Mountain, the tallest spot on Ascension – a few score feet higher than St Helena. Interestingly enough, the foliage here is 90% introduced — on purpose! Charles Darwin visited, and along with a british botanist encouraged the introduction of plants…and so they were shipped by the hundreds from Kew during the 19th century. fragrant “Lady Nugent’s Rose” on Green Mountain There’s animal spotting: besides feral sheep, there are feral donkeys (relatively easy to find) and rumored to be feral cows (COWS) in the greener elevations. it’s cute, but do you really want to get close to a wild donkey? It’s the end of nesting season for green turtles, which swim here from Brazil to lay nests by the thousand.

They’re plentiful enough in the water that we must take care while driving the dinghy to avoid any dink-vs-turtle accidents. These turtles are huge – more than four feet long, around three feet across! The kids curtailed sleep to make a dawn pilgrimage to the beach in the hopes of seeing a few, and weren’t disappointed. Full moonlight, however, isn’t great for pictures…and it’s not right to use a flash on these gentle giants. This mama throws sand to bury her nest as early dawn gives juuuuust enough light for a blurry shot. A land crab species found only here and three other tiny South Atlantic islands surprised us by showing up on a wall near the trailhead for the Dew Pond hike – an elevation of at least 1,500′! These tenacious crabs are mountain dwellers and spend most of their time underground, but make an annual pilgrimage to the sea to spawn. It must be an amazing sight. It’s not all nature and critters on Ascension…Friday nights are happy hour at the Volcano Club, the open-to-civilians joint at the US Air Force base. Of course we had to go!

I must be feeling homesick as we get closer to the USA, because the sight of US brands on the shelves in their short-order restaurant was exciting. In the bar, big screen TVs played FOOTBALL – our kind of football! Want a beer? Choose Bud, and Bud Light. All the music was American. OH MY GOODNESS. Honestly, I got a little misty. Totem set sail from Ascension today! We’re headed for Barbados; you can see our current position and speed here ! We will get comments at sea, so add a little interest to our day out in the big blue. We’ll be able to respond after we reach the Caribbean in late April. Sharing is always appreciated! 6 Responses to Ascension Island: remote South Atlantic Roberta April 4, 2016 at 2:18 pm # Anxious to hear about the sea state and sailing as you go. Have a safe trip ….I will be thinking of you from my cubby at work. Judy Hildebrand April 4, 2016 at 2:34 pm # Thanks for the awesome pics of Ascension! Have a great trip across the big pond.

Looks like I am probably heading to St Maartin to p/u Ethereal on the 27th. Still hoping to see you in Bermuda 🙂 Cheers! Yvette April 4, 2016 at 3:47 pm # Happy sailing! So, if you’re bored in a few days time, here is a good skywatching activity: on April 6, Venus and the moon will be super close together at dawn, but even MORE interesting is you guys are potentially in the area of Earth where Venus gets occulted by the moon, ie covered up by it, after sunrise. Depends where you are on Earth for what time that happens exactly, but sometime around 7 UT I’d wager. Issue of course is the sun is already up by then, and the moon won’t be that far away, so while binoculars would help in seeing this please don’t blind yourself if you do decide you’re that bored. 🙂 More info here if your Internet can handle it: Behan April 24, 2016 at 7:51 am # I’m so glad you let us know about this, Yvette- it was VERY cool to see the proximity of venus and the moon at sunrise!

L. Alan April 6, 2016 at 4:49 am # Good luck crossing the equator. To remind you of the PNW; I’m going to the Mariner’s Home Opener Friday in Seattle. Record warm temperatures the next two days, Thursday and Friday down here in NW Oregon. Have fun. Kevin Baerg April 6, 2016 at 2:55 pm # Another great post about a place I now want to visit! I see you are doing 7 knots as I type. Can’t wait to read the passage notes and see the line you take to get to Barbados. High fives to all Totem Crew! Welcome! Hi, I'm Behan! Since 2008 I’ve been sailing around the world with my husband our three children. Please subscribe or get in touch- I love to hear from readers!

ECHELON US Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Far East Detachment, Diego Garcia -7ï¿½ 58' 5.11", -14ï¿½ 24' 13.53" NASA Deep Space Station Ascension Island An integrated Apollo and deep-space station (DSS 72) was constructed from 1965 to 1966 on the British island of Ascension, in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 2,250 kilometers (1,400 miles) east of South America, 1,600 miles west of Africa, and about 4,000 miles down the Air Force Eastern Test Range (ETR). The original purpose of constructing this station was to support the early Surveyor missions, whose Atlas-Centaur launch vehicles would produce a direct-ascent trajectory to the Moon, rather than insertion from a parking orbit. Translunar injection would therefore occur before the spacecraft was visible to either the Johannesburg station or the stations in Spain. Consequently, a station nearer to the launch site than these facilities was needed to obtain during this phase positional data vital to trajectory determination and midcourse corrections.

Because such a station could also support later deep-space missions and Apollo manned missions, NASA decided to build an integrated facility (with a joint-control building) serving both programs. A site survey conducted by Goddard Space Flight Center personnel in April 1964 on Ascension Island, where an ETR station was already established, identified a suitable site at Devil's Ashpit, on the eastern side of the island. Volcanic peaks surrounding the site provided natural shielding against radar and other radio-frequency interference from the ETR station and a British broadcasting facility elsewhere on the 88-square- kilometer (34-square-mile) island. Deep space and Apollo missions were separately monitored by two 9-meter, az-el-mounted antennas with high angular-tracking rates. The deep-space antenna (on the right in the photo) had a nominal communications range of 60,300 kilometers (37,500 miles). This station was funded by the U.S. State Department.

BBC Atlantic Relay Station, Ascension Island BBC Atlantic Relay Station, Ascension Island By 6006le Originally engineered and operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation's External Services Department as its South Atlantic Relay Station, this shortwave broadcasting station opened on February 5, 1966: The station was vital in serving both the United Kingdom's liberation forces and the population of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Currently operated and maintained by VT Communications under contract to the BBC, the site radiates English (World Service) and vernacular programmes using high-power frequency-agile transmitters in conjunction with high-gain 'curtain array' antennas, the supporting towers for which can be seen adjacent to the main transmitter building. Transmitter hall ca. 1993: Very Large Transmition Antenna Tower .. Very Large Transmition Antenna Towers .. ..BBC Atlantic Relay Station, Ascension Island ... BBC Atlantic Relay Station, Ascension Island .. ..Tx Main Sender Hall, S301-4, Feb 93 Royal Air Force Station Ascension ...

Wideawake Airfield Royal Air Force Station Ascension, more commonly known as RAF Ascension Island, and sometimes known as Ascension Island Base, is a British military airbase on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean, near the Equator. The first aircraft to land on Ascension Island was a Fairey Swordfish from HMS Archer in 1942. In 1943 the United States Army Air Force set up Wideawake Airfield, by arrangement with the British government. The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war, and fell into disuse. The Americans returned in 1956, and reopened the airfield in 1957. The runway was lengthened and widened in the mid 1960s to allow for larger aircraft. USAF then, and later NASA established missile tracking facilities based at Cat Hill. Although NASA usage ended in 1967, USAF continues its usage with several hundred personnel, mostly contractors. RAF Ascension Island was re-garrissoned by the RAF in 1982 and used extensively as a staging base during the Falklands War. Operation Black Buck, the long range bombing raids, were carried out from there.

The base continues this stating post role for the Falkland Islands, for both the RAF and the United States Air Force. British forces overseas: Falkland Islands and Ascension Island - GOV.UK GOV.UK British forces overseas: Falkland Islands and Ascension Island From: 13 October 2014, see all updates British forces in the south Atlantic, information on the islands, accommodation and facilities for personnel and their families Contents Things to do on Ascension Island Falkland Islands Forces are based in the Falklands to demonstrate the government’s continued commitment to the security of UK overseas territories in the south Atlantic. They include air defence assets, maritime patrol capability and infantry forces. There are also regular naval deployments to the region and temporary deployments for routine exercises. The exact force levels are kept under constant review and are structured and maintained at a level consistent with this policy. Mount Pleasant Aerodrome manual 2014 Pre deployment information All Service personnel deploying to the Falklands are to do so in accordance with the Joint Individual Mounting Instruction . Personnel deploying with their families are also to read the Families pre arrival pack .

Ascension Island: a short guide First discovered in 1501 by Juan Da Nova, Ascension was called Conception before being renamed in 1503 by Alphonse D’Alberquerque. A stopping off point for ships, Ascension was not continually inhabited until 1815 when Napoleon Bonaparte was imprisoned on St Helena. The British occupied Ascension to prevent the French from using the Island as an escape route. The Victoria Marines worked hard to make the Island habitable, introducing a variety of plants and animals. Buildings, which still stand today, were erected up the Mountain and in the Garrison, now called Georgetown. Although almost indefensible, forts were built but British sovereignty was never challenged. Towards the end of the 19th century Ascension had gone into decline. In 1899 The Easter Telegraph Company (now called Cable and Wireless) found a new use for this speck of land. They laid telegraphy cable on the seabed, and soon Ascension became the centre of communications in the South Atlantic. Later NASA found another use for the Island and tested the moon buggy on the lava flows.

Georgetown Originally called Garrison by the Victoria Marines, Georgetown houses most of the Islands public buildings. The Church of St Mary the Virgin can be seen within the Islands racetrack. The comer stone was laid in 1843 and it was finally consecrated by the first Bishop of St Helena in 1861. Fort Hayes can be clearly seen on the coastline. Built in about 1860 it is now used by the Heritage Society as a museum. The museum also boasts a splendid picture gallery as well as a large and varied number of artefacts from the Islands history. Green Mountain The tallest peak on the Island, Green Mountain is often shrouded in mist. It was recognised as having the greatest potential for vegetation and the Marines had a farm up there. In Victoria times and well into the 20th century this provided all the fresh produce for the Island including milk and vegetables. Today, with the advent of the Airbridge from the UK, the farm is considerably smaller than it was. Still standing are several of the buildings including the Red Lion, which despite its name was never a pub in the UK sense. It was originally built to house farm workers.

Just below the summit of the Mountain, the Dew Pond is the highest ‘feature’ on the Island and can be found surrounded by a bamboo forest and a myriad of plant and wildlife. It was dug out in 1875 to act as an emergency water supply, although in practice it would never have been sufficient to provide water for the Island. The path to the top is often muddy and a rope is provided to help both the ascent and the descent. Sister’s Peak Sister’s Peak is one of the most recently active volcanic peaks (500 to 700 years ago) of the island and dominates the skyline. A path was cut to the top in 1972 when it was opened as the Hannay Pass but is also famed as being the first ‘letter box’ walk to have been established on the Island. The solidified lava flows down the other side of the peaks can be clearly seen and there are fumarole caves which can be explored. Two Boats Village Two Boats was built to house the BBC workers when the South Atlantic Relay Station was opened at English Bay.

It is so named after the 2 long boats, which were up ended and placed into the ground to act as shade shelters for the men that moved water from Green Mountain to the rest of the Island. The two boats can still be seen on the way to Dampier’s Drip from a stile at the top of Two Boats Village. Comfortless Cove A beautiful cove and one of the only two places where swimming is safe when the sea is calm. A rope has been pulled across the entrance to the cove making it even safer. Ideal for snorkelling when the sea is calm you can see a variety of fish, including Blackfish, which are known as ‘the dustbins of the sea’. Throw in any food substance and it will be enveloped by a Blackfish pushing and fighting to get their share. Inedible and not useful for bait they are perhaps one of the most common sights in the sea especially around the pierhead and are completely harmless to the swimmer. Comfortless Cove was originally called Comfort Cove. It was where the ships carrying yellow fever docked. Islanders would bring the stricken sailors food and water across the rocks whilst preventing an epidemic amongst their own community.

There are several small cemeteries around the coastline but the most visited is close to Comfortless Cove by the name of Bonetta Cemetery; so named after the ship HMS Bonetta which brought its fever victims ashore in 1838. Such desolation led to the change of name. Much later, the first transatlantic telegraph cables were brought ashore at this point some of which can still be seen today. Boatswain Bird Island Boatswain Bird Island is inhabited by seabirds and landing by the public is forbidden. Boat trips and divers anchor off its shores and dolphins often play around the boats as they speed through the turquoise waters. The Island can be seen from many vantage points around the Island; the top of Weatherpost or White Horse or simply by walking along from Hannay’s beach next to where the blow hole spews water into a fountain. In 1923 the English Bay Company began mining guano deposits. The remains of this mining and the old log railway tracks can be seen on the surface of Boatswain Bird Island and around English Bay itself.

Even after the English Bay Company stopped commercial operations, the guano off Boatswain Island was collected to fertilise the farm at Green Mountain. There is the boatswain bird itself with its beautiful long tail that remains fairly aloof unlike the fairy terns, who in their eager curiosity fly low over your heads to see what you are doing. The Ascension frigate bird can be seen circling the skies looking for prey (often baby turtles at the end of the nesting season) but the distinctive red pouches of the male are rarely seen. The boobies are a sight to behold when there is a fry around the Pierhead as they dive straight into the water to catch their share. Other birds include petrels, brown and black noddies and the wideawake or sooty tern. Things to do on Ascension Island Ascension Island wildlife Probably the most famous of the Ascension wildlife is the Green Turtle or Chelonia Mydas which swims from Brazil to the Islands sandy beaches to lay its eggs every November to May. During its 1000 mile journey the turtles fast as there is no vegetation for which they can feed on.

Mating off shore the female clambers up the beach to dig her hole and lay up to 120 eggs at one time; each turtle visits the beach up to 10 times over a 17 day period. When these hatch the young make their way instinctively to the sea where a variety of predators ensures that only a few will survive. At one time, the Turtles provided fresh meat for the sailors and were a good source of income for the Island. Today they are a protected species The only indigenous inhabitants of the Island are the land crabs and the seabirds. The land crabs are most prolific around the foot of Green Mountain and the old NASA site. They are purple and orange and despite living on the land return to the seashore to lay their eggs. The sea birds have all but left the Island but in some places they have now returned. Ships inadvertently introduced rats and mice but in a bid to exterminate them, the ferrel cat was introduced. Unfortunately, the cats found the birds much easier prey and drove them onto the hard to reach cliffs and shacks off the coast.

Donkeys and sheep introduced by the early farmers for labour and food have since been allowed to roam free causing an unusual traffic hazard, particularly after rain when they stand in the road to drink from the puddles. Watch the green turtles laying and hatching The season runs from December to June. Turtles can be found in many locations, but Long Beach, next to Georgetown, is probably the best location. They almost always lay their eggs at night when it is dark, however, please do your watch before 11pm, so if a turtle is disturbed, she will have a chance to try again. Don’t use a torch, approach from the rear and don’t take any photographs until she is well into the egg laying phase or returning to the sea. When the hatchlings emerge, they wait until it is dark and the sand has cooled, before trying to reach the sea. If they try to cross the beach in daylight, the birds often get them before they reach the water. I would recommend booking with the Conservation group for a turtle talk and watch. These happen on Monday and Thursday evenings at 9pm and costs £5 per person.

They show you a video then take you down to Long Beach where they will try and find a turtle laying their eggs and some babies, depending on the time of year. The Conservation office on the main road through Georgetown and is open from 10am to noon Monday to Saturday and at other times on a request basis, Extension 6359. Walk up Green Mountain and get a stamp in your passport Ascension Island offers an infinite variety of landscapes. From the dense lush vegetation on Green Mountain, to the spectacular volcanic landscapes found elsewhere. There are many good walks on the island, some easy, some severe, often with splendid views. Many of the walks are known as “letterbox” walks” with rubber stamps to validate your achievement in a map book. The book can be purchased from the Tourist Information Office in the Obsidian Hotel or at the Heritage Centre. Some routes are hazardous and expert advice should be sought before attempting any of them. For safety reasons, we recommend a minimum of three people to do a walk together and please sign a sat phone out of base operations. One of the most popular walks is at the top of Green Mountain. You can drive up there and park just before the Red Lion (sorry it’s not a pub!).

From the Red Lion follow the track up past the old pig farm and on to the cow sheds. Take the path sign posted to the Dew Pond. The path is well marked, but sometimes can be overgrown and is very often muddy. The top section gets very steep and there is a boardwalk and rope for you to help get to the top, not as difficult as it sounds. You can do this with children. The pond was built in the 1870s and an anchor chain just past the pond marks the highest point (2817ft) on the island. Visit the blow hole at Hannay’s Beach Take a short drive from Two Boats down Watson’s Way towards the North East Bay, when the road forks right. Park past the Ariane tracking station then walk away from the station down to the beach to where you will find the blow hole. Don’t forget your camera! There are lots of rock pools here which are full of fish, a great place to visit with children. Take a dip at Comfortless Cove or English Bay For Comfortless Cove turn off at One Boat and take a drive down to Pyramid Point Road. Follow the track to the left before the ‘golf ball’ then walk down to the beach.

Enjoy a swim and relax on the beach, but before you leave pay a visit to the Bonetta Cemetery at the back of the cove. The Cemetery dates from 1838. It is where victims of yellow fever from among crews of ships patrolling the coast of West Africa were laid to rest. To get to English Bay turn right off Pyramid Point Road, onto English Bay Road. Go past the BBC Atlantic Relay Station, take the left turn just before the power station and follow the road down to the main beach. There is a good barbecue and covered area should you want some shade down on the beach. Both beaches are excellent for snorkelling as there is a great variety of marine life to be seen. NB: These are the only two beaches where you can swim and even then, do not swim if there is any swell running. Over the years several people have been killed by swells lifting them and dumping them on the rocks. Take a walk through the Wideawake (Sooty) Tern colony This is seasonal and will depend on when the terns are nesting on Wideawake fairs at the back of the airfield.

Please get advice from the conservation people in Georgetown if you want to go there on your own otherwise you take trips out on a Wednesday at 1000 hrs (for 2 hours) with the conservation office. Cost is £5 per person. Visit St Mary’s church Georgetown Built by the Royal Marines in 1843, St. Mary’s Church contains many interesting memorial stones and gives a real taste of Ascension Island history. It also contains stained glass windows in memory of those men who lost their lives in the Falklands. St. Mary’s is open 24 hours a day and the door is only closed to keep out the donkeys. Take a drive up the NASA road to The Devil’s Ashpit As you drive up the road watch out for the yellow and purple land crabs, which live in burrows on the side of the road. They like to live quite high up on land, only returning to the seashore to breed and lay their eggs on the beaches near the high water marks. At the end of the road you will see the old NASA control building. This area is the starting point for several walks on the east of the island.

If you are equipped to do some walking, the Weather Post and Devil’s Cauldron are worth the effort from this point as they give the best views of Boatswain Bird Island. Go big game fishing Fishing is a very popular pastime at Ascension, both as a hobby and to supplement the diet and many people fish either from the shore or boats. The waters around the island host a wide variety of fish. Offshore can be found such species as Tuna, Wahoo, Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and shark. Inshore Grouper, Bullseye and Congor Eel can be found. There are several skippered boats (with fishing gear included) available for hire at reasonable rates. Contact numbers for local fisherman can be obtained from the reception at the Obsidian Hotel. Note: Fishing from the rocks around Ascension can be dangerous due to tidal surges and unpredictability of the sea state. Before attempting any form of fishing on Ascension, you should be wise to seek the advice of an experienced fisherman. Visit the museum Fort Hayes Museum is run by the Ascension Island Heritage Society, and is well worth a visit. It is packed with information, photographs, historical facts and hands on things for the kids.

From the road to the side of the Saints Club, heading towards the pier, the museum is sign posted to the left. Follow down the hill and the main museum building is on the left. On the right is Fort Hayes itself and part of the museum is under it. Visit a fumerole Fumeroles are formed when large air pockets appear in red hot lava as a volcano erupts. When the lava cools a fumerole, or cave, is created. There are many fumeroles and caves around the island to explore. A good one to visit with kids is the fumerole behind Command Hill, as it is easy to find and fairly easy walking to get to it. The reception at the Obsidian Hotel holds a folder that is full of fumeroles to visit and maps how to get there. Go diving (experienced divers only) The diving conditions are usually excellent with clear warm water and a wide variety of marine life. Sea conditions are particularly variable from November to May. Large swells can build up which can make diving impossible. There are no rescue or hypabaric facilities on the island, so safety is paramount, with divers having to take full responsibility for their actions.

Conservative dive profiles, safety stops and voluntary depth limits make sense when the nearest recompression chamber is at least eight hours flight away. Gym The gym at Travellers Hill is well equipped with squash court, cycling machines and weight training equipment. Various sports happen on a regular basis and anyone can join in, extra bodies always welcome! Tennis There are tennis courts in Two Boats Village and the American base. All these courts are free to use. Swimming pools In Georgetown there is a small saltwater swimming pool that is open all day, but there is no lifeguard. Head towards the pier and as you reach the bottom of the hill turn right. About 150 metres on your right you will find the pool. It is free to use. At Two Boats Village there is a fresh water swimming pool situated behind the Two Boats Club that is free to use. There is no lifeguard. The fresh water swimming pool at Traveller’s Hill (about 50 metres uphill from the NAAFI ) has recently been updated with new pool loungers, a quality sound system, a vending machine and inflatables (from individual floats to a huge 30m dual Commando Run) .

Access is limited - times can vary so check the programme schedule on the board outside the pool. Golf Golf is a very popular game in Ascension. The 18 hole golf course at One Boat (about half way between Georgetown and Two Boats) offers a unique environment to play golf. The “greens” are called “browns” and are made of crushed compacted lava smoothed flat with diesel oil and around the edges of the fairways large boulders of volcanic rock can be found. It is a very challenging course and it is recommended that you play with a local who is familiar with the course. The golf course is open 7 days a week. The cost is £2.50* for a 9 hole game and £5.00* for a full round. There is a friendly match played every Thursday afternoon, which anyone can join in. * Prices are subject to change. Note: You must provide your own golf clubs or try the gym at Travellers Hill who may have spare clubs Added link to Mount Pleasant Aerodrome manual 2014.

27 May 2014 Updated section about Ascension Island 17 December 2012 New document added and two paragraphs relating to Mount Pleasant Complex playgroup and Stanley playgroup removed. 12 December 2012 China's Next Move: A Naval Base In The South Atlantic? | Pacific Council on International Policy China's Next Move: A Naval Base In The South Atlantic? March 31, 2015 National Security & Defense I recently returned from Walvis Bay, Namibia, the country's sole deep water port and former South Atlantic home to the Royal and South African Navies. Also in port were two of the three ships of the Royal Navy's Atlantic Patrol Tasking South. A Daring-class Type 45 air warfare destroyer and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary small fleet tanker were both pier side. (The task force's third ship, HMS Clyde, was presumably on station patrolling the Falklands.) While Walvis Bay enjoys a 138-year history with the Royal Navy, it could soon be home to a powerful Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy surface squadron. In Jan.

2015, The Namibian reported the existence of a "confidential letter from Namibia's ambassador to China, Ringo Abed, to Namibia's foreign minister stat[ing] that 'a [Chinese] delegation will visit Namibia ... for discussions ... on the way forward regarding plans for the proposed naval base in Walvis Bay'.” According to the letter, a Chinese delegation, including technical staff and naval architects, will meet with Namibian officials sometime after March 21, 2015 to discuss a field feasibility study for the base. Beijing has told Namibian diplomats that a "Chinese naval presence will deter any would-be illegal trawlers and smugglers.” China's Indian Ocean-based "string of pearls" naval base strategy to protect the country's 21st Century vision of a "maritime silk road" looks like it may now extend all the way to the South Atlantic. If such a development came to fruition, it would have major strategic implications for the West. China's Indian Ocean-based "string of pearls" naval base strategy to protect the country's 21st Century vision of a "maritime silk road" looks like it may now extend all the way to the South Atlantic.

During my visit to Walvis Bay, China's plan to build a naval base was the talk of the town. Several Namibians pointed out that China already has a major satellite tracking installation in-country. China is developing key uranium mines. Chinese immigrants are opening shops in every corner of the land. A Namibian told me he would not be surprised if Namibia soon elects its first Chinese member of parliament. One local, who works at the harbor, said he has heard the PLA Navy will deploy four to six warships to the prospective base. Once that happens, he said, Namibia becomes, in essence, a Chinese colony. That estimate is consistent with a reported PLA Navy call on Walvis Bay last year, "PLAN's 16th escort task force consisting of the Taihu, a Type 903 replenishment ship, Yancheng, a Type 054A guided-missile frigate and Luoyang, a Type 053H3 frigate, anchored in Walvis Bay during a mission to the Gulf of Aden." The South Atlantic: a history that matters This history of Walvis Bay is dictated by its strategic importance as a naval station.

Britain occupied Walvis Bay in 1838 to keep the deep water harbor out of the Kaiser's hands. It allowed the territory to be annexed by the Cape Colony in the same year. Briefly overrun by the Germans in 1915, South Africa recaptured Walvis Bay during the World War I Southwest Africa campaign. The naval base at Walvis Bay remained in the Royal Navy's hands until South Africa became a Republic in 1960. Even after Namibia gained its independence in 1990, Walvis Bay stayed South African sovereign territory. Walvis Bay was only ceded by South Africa to Namibia as an act of African solidarity after Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994. The South Atlantic, while below the radar of most policy makers today, has played an outsized role in modern naval history. Therein lies the importance of Walvis Bay. At the outset of World War I, on December 8, 1914, the Royal Navy defeated the Imperial German Navy's then-famous Pacific Cruiser Squadron, under the command of Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee, in the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

The British victory prevented Spee from wreaking havoc on allied merchant shipping in the Atlantic as he had done in the Pacific. The Battle of the River Plate in the South Atlantic on Dec. 13, 1939, was the first major naval engagement of World War II. Four Royal Navy cruisers engaged the German pocket battleship, Graf Spee, after it had sunk several allied merchant ships near St. Helena Island in the South Atlantic. The German warship was scuttled by its crew in the River Plate after it was cornered by the Royal Navy. Later in the war, during the Battle of the Atlantic, allied long-range naval patrol flying boats and land-based aircraft operated from Ascension and St. Helena Islands performing anti-surface commerce raider and anti-submarine warfare missions. In 1982, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher assembled the most powerful naval battle group since World War II and dispatched it to the South Atlantic to retake the Falklands from Argentina, which had illegally invaded and occupied the islands.

After the nuclear hunter submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine battle cruiser General Belgrano on May 2, 1982, Argentina ceased to be anything close to a blue water naval force of any consequence in the region. During one of the last hot conflicts of the Cold War, the Angolan civil war, Fidel Castro was exceedingly anxious that the South African Navy, based at Walvis Bay, would attack and sink his troop and armament conveys bound for Angola's capital, Luanda. South Africa retired its last blue water frigate, President Pretorius, in July 1985 due to budgetary issues. Nevertheless, Castro was concerned by South Africa's small fleet of Daphne-class diesel-electric submarines that sometimes deployed from Walvis Bay. A present-day predicament Since the mid-1980s when the South Atlantic's regional powers - Argentina and South Africa - basically stopped policing the ocean's blue waters, the job has fallen primarily to Britain. The U.K. has the most significant Western interests in the region.

According to the Royal Navy, Atlantic Patrol Tasking South "provide[s] ongoing protection and reassurance to British interests [and "allied nations"] in the South Atlantic, maintaining the continuous Royal Naval presence in the Atlantic." For decades, the U.K. has protected the vital South Atlantic sea lanes as well as its territories of Ascension, St. Helena and the oil rich Falklands and related islands on a very efficient basis with just one Type 45 destroyer (albeit likely the most sophisticated destroyer in the world) or a Type 23 frigate. The lone warship is usually accompanied by a replenishment ship when on extended deployment in the South Atlantic. Given the significant cuts to the Royal Navy since Prime Minister Cameron took office amid the Global Financial Crisis, one warship is probably the most the Royal Navy can deploy to the South Atlantic, given the U.K.'s other commitments. The U.S. Navy, its own fleet size declining for years and preoccupied with the Middle East and Pacific, has been pleased to see its closest naval ally provide presence in the region.

In this context, China's desire to extend its growing surface warfare fleet to a Walvis Bay base is smart geopolitical and naval strategy—amplified by the fact that Beijing has already showed at least some interest in the Atlantic going back to late 2012. Namibia is a friendly government that will be increasingly susceptible to Chinese influence as the PLA's bases there grow as does the Chinese immigrant population and China's commercial mining investments. Across the South Atlantic, Argentina is hostile to Britain due to the Falklands territorial dispute. Buenos Aires is also antagonistic to America and various European nations as a result of a massive bond crisis. Accordingly, Chinese warships should have ample opportunities for port visits and to conduct joint exercises across the ocean from its hoped-for base at Walvis Bay. Recent press reports also claim that China is negotiating to sell jet fighters to Argentina. If the deal is completed, those fighters would pose a direct threat to Britain's air superiority over the Falklands. Such a deal would also almost certainly result in a contingent of PLA Air Force personnel taking up residence in Argentina for training and maintenance purposes.

China's desire to extend its growing surface warfare fleet to a Walvis Bay base is smart geopolitical and naval strategy—amplified by the fact that Beijing has already showed at least some interest in the Atlantic going back to late 2012. The other regional player, South Africa, has a robust small fleet but its combat readiness and effectiveness have been questioned in recent years. Further, South Africa's post-Apartheid government has maintained strong and friendly ties with Beijing over the past two decades. Thus, South Africa can no longer be counted on as a ready Western ally in the event of a crisis involving China. And, access to its naval bases at Simonstown, Port Elizabeth and Durban cannot be taken for granted by NATO navies in such an event. From a base at Walvis Bay, PLA Navy warships would have short distances to sail for friendly, if not allied, ports. It would have the ability to patrol the critical Cape of Good Hope around Africa and Cape Horn around South America. The approaches to the key North Atlantic sea lanes linking the Americas, Africa and Europe would be nearby. Both Germany and the Soviet Union would have coveted such a naval base in the 20th Century.

China is on the threshold of obtaining such an advantage in the 21st Century. How the West could respond Should the U.S. or U.K. fail to persuade Namibia to not allow China to build a naval base at Walvis Bay, or worse yet, not even engage on the issue, the West is not without resources should it later decide to counter China's South Atlantic gambit. The value of the airfields at the British Overseas Territories in the event of a South Atlantic crisis cannot be overestimated. The Royal Air Force's Mount Pleasant airbase in the Falklands is a massive hardened and fortified complex, nicknamed the "Death Star" by locals. The base could accommodate far more planes than the four Eurofigher Typhoons and Voyager tanker/transport now deployed there. Mount Pleasant is a strategic asset in the South Atlantic. The RAF also manages Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island, which it describes as "an invaluable link and airhead for the South Atlantic, especially the Falkland Islands and St. Helena." The U.S. Air Force already uses Wideawake airfield on a regular basis for a variety of contingencies and is very familiar with Ascension Island. A new airport on St.

Helena – Britain's second oldest colony – has been under construction since early 2012. It is scheduled to open next year at a cost to the U.K. of £201.5 million. The airport is slated for civilian use and will be managed by a South African concern but the modern facility will be able to handle the entire range of NATO military aircraft. St. Helena's proximity to Walvis Bay is advantageous for ISR purposes. Bermuda is the fourth important British possession in the region. The island provided key naval and air facilities in both World Wars. It has a modern airport and harbor and can be readily supplied from the continental U.S. Mount Pleasant, Ascension, St. Helena and Bermuda would provide excellent coverage over the South Atlantic for long range naval patrol aircraft and bombers. Since its decision to scrap its Nimrod program, the U.K. no longer has a long-range naval aviation patrol capability. And, with the retirement of its Canberra and Vulcan bombers, the RAF no longer has a long-range bomber platform. Accordingly, it would fall to the U.S. to fly P-8 Poseidons from the U.K.’s island airfields in order to effectively patrol the South Atlantic. The U.S.

Navy could also task surface combatants and submarines to augment the Royal Navy's patrol in the South Atlantic. In such a case, the islands would be available to surface combatants for resupply and limited maintenance requirements. As the U.K. continues to cut its defense budget as part of an overall effort to reduce the size of government, this might be seen as a low cost way of maintaining British interests in the region. Of course, such deployments would heavily tax the shrinking U.S. fleet and naval aviation assets and likely slow America's pivot to the Pacific. Thus, at relatively little cost to itself, a Chinese pivot to the South Atlantic via another "pearl" base at Walvis Bay could make America's already slow Pacific pivot all the more difficult. Further, a robust PLA Navy presence in the South Atlantic could cause the U.K. to seek an accommodation with China in order to protect its last important overseas territories. China, which will be dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come, would certainly be interested in stakes in the rich offshore oil and gas fields surrounding the Falklands.

It is not inconceivable that Whitehall could see involving China in such projects, backed up by the PLA Navy's South Atlantic presence, as a way of deterring Argentine aggression in the Falklands. As the U.K. continues to cut its defense budget as part of an overall effort to reduce the size of government, this might be seen as a low cost way of maintaining British interests in the region. It is likely mere coincidence, but the timing of the U.K.'s announcement that it will defy Washington and join China's Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank just as a PLA Navy delegation prepares for a visit to Namibia will not be lost on Beijing. China is putting the South Atlantic into play with an audacious and clever geopolitical move to Walvis Bay. Consequently, after years off-stage, the ocean that is famous for high-profile naval engagements may be making a comeback. ____________________ Robert C. O'Brien is the California Managing Partner at Arent Fox LLP and served as a US Representative to the UN General Assembly. This article originally appeared in RealClearDefense . The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.

You Might Also Like Wideawake Engineers: Ascension Island's Wideawake Airfield To Celebrate 70th Anniversary Americans on Ascension Island in World War II Handy Island "The Air War Finds A Handy South Atlantic Island" was the caption on this Peter Hurd painting of Ascension Island, from Life Magazine, April 1945. It was the only place for pilots to refuel between Natal and West Africa. Monday, April 4, 2011 Ascension Island's Wideawake Airfield To Celebrate 70th Anniversary Wideawake Field, Ascension Island, under construction, 1942. It is now operated under a command out of Patrick AFB in Florida. It is very likely one of the "leased" bases Churchill and FDR agreed to in exchange for all those ships we arranged to "lend" to England just before we joined the war in 1941. The leases were, I believe, to be for 99 years. Wonder if we have to give this one back?

In emailing the American Air Force staff, small as it is, on the British Overseas Territory of Ascension Island, I just became aware we are headed for the 70th Anniversary of Wideawake Field, built by the American 38th Engineer Aviation Battalion from March to June, 1942. The engineers were given 90 days to blast that thing out of volcanic rock and, as you might expect, they met their deadline. But of course. Twenty-five thousand planes used that field to make the hop over to the China-Burma-India Theatre in World War II. It was an important outpost--this American air field on an isolated British desert island. My father, Ashley Chapman, of Homewood, Alabama, was just out of Auburn University--a fresh-faced ROTC 2nd Lieutenant--when he was shipped to Ascension to help build that field. As a consequence of the upcoming anniversary and my own father's connection to it, I wanted to get this blog page going in order to encourage and/or organize a 70th anniversary memorial for Wideawake Field. Most of the men who built it are gone--my own father died at age 90 in March 2010.

I'm hoping this blog will help alert the children and grandchildren of these tough and talented boys, to the coming anniversary. Watch this space. I'll share stories with you, and hope to hear from others with fathers and grandfathers who took part in the work on the fascinating island. 3)ASCENSION IN PICTURES - ASCENSION ISLAND * - Articles - Sixtant - War II in the South Atlantic The environs of the Airfield. Only a tiny garrison kept the rock active. Ascension Island seen from above. One of the first Squadrons the US deployed at Ascension was composed by Aircobras and B 25's medium twin engine bombers to provide an effective protection of the island. CAP. CHAPMAN COLLECTION. Our special thanks to Ms. Robin Chapman who kindly granted us permission to display his father's pictures. It's a symbolic tribute to those brave young men who sailed from Recife bound to an unknown tiny forgotten island in the mid of south Atlantic to carve a rock and erect one of the most important military outpost of the War. The staggering array of Buldozers, Graders, Rollers, Tractors, Trucks and men who build the airfield in 100 days. Capt.

Chapman quoted on newspaper. Picture shows a steel arch hangar being erected at Ascension. Detail of the runway taking shape. The super human effort which began on 1st April ended on July 10, when the first American plane landed on the runway. One B 26 Marauder at maintenance before the long hop to west African airfield of Takoradi. Dozens of engineers and Army personnel are seen working to lay the pipeline at Ascension Island. Flocks of Sooty terns spread accros the runway at Ascension Airfield. It was a matter of great concern because they represented a menace to aircraft on take off. Potable water was one of the most critical commodity at the island. With the arrival of thousands of troops the problem became more accute. Rationing was imposed to everyone. On the placard above, are written the restrictions to its use. Without Ascension Airfield the hop to African bases would be far too long especially for twin engine aircrafts which crossed the Atlantic by thousands. Men from US 38th Engineer Regiment along with the British Garrison help to lay a pipeline, vital for the transport and machines involved in the building of the Airfield.

One anti aircraft gun and its garrison seen at Ascension. Although the possibillity of any Axis attack from the air seemed unlikely the US Army took precautionary measures to defend the island against any intruder. Above a picture of the runway upon completion. Soon dozens of aircrafts of all types will be landing in that strategic allied outpost. Select nao autorizado. You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'and a.id <> 413 order by ordem asc' at line 1 Ascension Island Ascension Island (7.95°S, 14.37°W) is a dependency of St. Helena which lies some 800 miles to the southeast ( location map ). It is as remote as St. Helena, being almost exactly in the middle of the South Atlantic, but is a smaller island (98 sq. km [34 sq. mi.]; topographic map ). Ascension is volcanic in origin, but has superb white sand beaches (the sand is shell and coral sand). It is a rugged, dry, barren, and inhospitable island.

Most of the surface of Ascension is covered by basalt lava flows and cinder cones ( geology of Ascension ). History [See also the potted history from Packer's Ascension Island Handbook.] Ascension was first discovered in 1501 by Juan da Nova Castella, but the discovery apparently went unrecorded, and the island was re-discovered on Ascension Day 1503 by Alfonso d'Albuquerque. Subsequently Ascension was little visited; it was too dry and barren to be of any use to the East Indies fleets. Ascension became strategically significant with the exile of Napoleon to St. Helena; the British were concerned that it could be used in any attempt to rescue Napoleon. Thus a small British naval garrison was established on the island in October 1815. By Napoleon's death in 1821 Ascension had become a victualling station and sanitarium for ships engaged in suppression of the slave trade from the West African coast.

In 1823 the garrison was taken over by the Royal Marines and the island remained a naval possession (HMS Ascension, "a Sloop of War of the smaller class") until 1922 when Ascension became a dependency of St. Helena. In 1942 US Army Engineers built the airfield, but after W.W.II the island reverted back to the sole use of Cable and Wireless. In 1957 the US presence was re-established on Ascension with the extension of the Eastern Test Range followed by the construction of a NASA tracking station in 1965/6 (since closed down). In 1966 the BBC constructed a short wave relay station to serve South America and Africa. Ascension came to brief international notice during the Falklands war when it served as a staging post for the British forces en route to and from the Falklands. Present Day Ascension Ascension has a population of about 1,250 (mostly Saints) and is a communications centre (BBC and Cable and Wireless) in addition to the RAF and USAF presence.

A resident Administrator nominally governs Ascension, although in reality the island is run (and operating costs paid for) by its users. Ascension has an airstrip although there are no commercial flights to Ascension; RAF flights from Brize Norton to the Falklands stop at Ascension, and USAF flights from Patrick AFB (Florida) serve the US Base on the island. Ascension used to be a "closed" island but tourist access has recently become available, although there are relatively few facilities for tourists or casual visitors. Ascension can be briefly visited as a passenger on the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St. Helena when it calls at the island. The Islander weekly newspaper is available online. Ascension Island: remote South Atlantic - Sailfeed Ascension Island: remote South Atlantic Posted by Behan Gifford / 0 Comments Uninhabited before it was encountered by Portuguese sailors in the 1500s, Ascension’s lonely position in the middle of, well, more or less nowhere in the South Atlantic made it a place of strategic importance since.

In the age of commerce under sail, it was a place to water up (once a source was found) and provision (initially by hunting green turtles, which nest in Ascension by the thousands; goats were left later, and farms cultivated). A British Overseas Territory, Ascension has never technically been settled, as St Helena has, but has hosted residents since the English installed garrisons in the early 1800s as a precaution against attempted escape by Napoleon from his nearby exile. The UK still has an RAF base , and staged for the Falklands War here. The US Air Force has a base, but US military presence has waxed and waned since building an airstrip- “ Wideawake ”- to support troops in North Africa during World War II. Now, it’s mainly useful as a military and communications hub. Ascension hosts one of five land-based antennae supporting the world’s GPS data that so many people rely up. The European Space Agency monitors their orbits from here. The BBC has a relay station here that transmits the British way of life to Africa and South America. What does all this mean? Well, there is a freakish amount of wire strung up.

Transmitting, of course, but it must be a pretty major listening station too. I’ve lost count of the radar domes. feral (yes, feral) sheep graze near some of the huge antennae structures on Ascension We won’t provision much because all that’s here now is either frozen, or isn’t very fresh (onions, potatoes, etc.). In many ways, ships visiting way back when had better meat and produce than we do today! But we thoroughly enjoy looking into the history of the island, exploring the desolate but strangely appealing landscape. Wideawake airfield among the cinder cones The museum is full of artifacts from the first centuries of Ascension’s discovery up through the modern era. It has the kind of random hours that speak to a volunteer organization (Monday evenings for two hours, Saturday mornings for two more), so we sneak in at the first opportunity as there are a few history buffs on Totem! Jamie is amazed that we can touch the bell that once hung in William Dampier’s ship Roebuck , which sank off Ascension more than three hundred years ago.

at least the 16th century china is under glass checking out the grounds atop old Fort Georgetown What do civilians do on a visit to Ascension? Go hiking! It pales next to the walks in St Helena, but still fun. The trick is transportation to reach them, but it was only about $25 to rent a car for the day, so off we went. We hiked to the summit of Green Mountain, the tallest spot on Ascension – a few score feet higher than St Helena. Interestingly enough, the foliage here is 90% introduced — on purpose! Charles Darwin visited, and along with a british botanist encouraged the introduction of plants…and so they were shipped by the hundreds from Kew during the 19th century. fragrant “Lady Nugent’s Rose” on Green Mountain There’s animal spotting: besides feral sheep, there are feral donkeys (relatively easy to find) and rumored to be feral cows (COWS) in the greener elevations. it’s cute, but do you really want to get close to a wild donkey? It’s the end of nesting season for green turtles, which swim here from Brazil to lay nests by the thousand.

They’re plentiful enough in the water that we must take care while driving the dinghy to avoid any dink-vs-turtle accidents. These turtles are huge – more than four feet long, around three feet across! The kids curtailed sleep to make a dawn pilgrimage to the beach in the hopes of seeing a few, and weren’t disappointed. Full moonlight, however, isn’t great for pictures…and it’s not right to use a flash on these gentle giants. This mama throws sand to bury her nest as early dawn gives juuuuust enough light for a blurry shot. A land crab species found only here and three other tiny South Atlantic islands surprised us by showing up on a wall near the trailhead for the Dew Pond hike – an elevation of at least 1,500′! These tenacious crabs are mountain dwellers and spend most of their time underground, but make an annual pilgrimage to the sea to spawn. It must be an amazing sight. It’s not all nature and critters on Ascension…Friday nights are happy hour at the Volcano Club, the open-to-civilians joint at the US Air Force base. Of course we had to go!

I must be feeling homesick as we get closer to the USA, because the sight of US brands on the shelves in their short-order restaurant was exciting. In the bar, big screen TVs played FOOTBALL – our kind of football! Want a beer? Choose Bud, and Bud Light. All the music was American. OH MY GOODNESS. Honestly, I got a little misty. Totem set sail from Ascension today! We’re headed for Barbados; you can see our current position and speed here ! We will get comments at sea, so add a little interest to our day out in the big blue. We’ll be able to respond after we reach the Caribbean in late April. This article was syndicated from Sailing Totem

Question: On which British island in the South Atlantic would you find Wideawake Airfield?
Answer: ASCENSION ISLAND