Edinburgh of the Seven Seas

The settlement was founded on the island of Tristan da Cunha in 1816 by a Sergeant William Glass from Kelso, Scottish Borders after the UK annexed Tristan da Cunha. A military garrison was maintained on the islands as a guard against any French attempts to rescue Napoleon, who was imprisoned on Saint Helena. The military garrison remained until the end of World War II. It is named after Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria, in honour of his visit to the island in 1867. Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the only settlement of Tristan da Cunha, and contains a small port, the Administrator's residence, and the post office. It was damaged in a volcanic eruption on the island in 1961, which forced the entire population to abandon the settlement and evacuate to Calshot in the UK. The eruption destroyed the crayfish factory. Most of the islanders returned in 1963. The harbour was named Calshot Harbour, after their temporary home during the eruption. ==Geography==

Climate The archipelago has a wet oceanic climate under the Köppen system with mild temperatures, but consistent moderate to heavy rainfall and very limited sunshine, due to the persistent westerly winds. Under the Trewartha classification, Tristan da Cunha has a humid subtropical climate due to the lack of cold weather, and it has a mild oceanic climate (Cfb) according to the Köppen climate classification, with an absence of extreme temperatures. The number of rainy days is comparable to the Aleutian Islands at a much higher latitude in the northern hemisphere, while sunshine hours are comparable to Juneau, Alaska, 20° farther from the equator. Frost is unknown below elevations of and summer temperatures are similarly mild, never reaching above . Sandy Point on the east coast is reputed to be the warmest and driest place on the island, being in the lee of the prevailing winds. ==Transport==

There is one road, nicknamed the "M1", which connects the village with the Potato Patches (or The Patches), the primary agricultural area, and is used by the few private cars on the island. Paved paths provide walking access to buildings around town. A bus service called Potato Patches Flier (using a 24-seat Isuzu mini school bus from Cape Town, South Africa) is available free to pensioners to travel to the Patches and stops along the road. All motor vehicles on the island have Tristan da Cunha plates consisting of "TDC" followed by two or three digits. The settlement has a small harbour named after the village of Calshot, where the population of Tristan da Cunha stayed following the volcanic eruption, with berths accessible by small vessels only. The island has around 10 scheduled ship visits per year for tourists and island residents to travel to/from the island on multi-day trips from South Africa or Namibia. ==Gallery==

File:Edinburgh-Tristan.jpg|South coast File:Edinburgh of the Seven Seas 01.jpg|South coast File:Edinburgh of the Seven Seas 03.jpg|South coast File:Supermarket, Tristan da Cunha.jpg|Supermarket File:Maria S. Merian vor Tristan da Cunha.jpg|Maria S. Merian File:St Joseph's Catholic church.jpg|St Joseph's Catholic church File:Tristan da Cunha4.jpg|South coast File:Tristan da Cunha - Mabel Clark Guest house.jpg|Mabel Clark Guest house File:Tristan da Cunha - Longboats in front of the administrator's residence.jpg|Longboats in front of administrator's residence ==Art==

Graphic artist Rolf Weijburg produced an etch of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas and other places on the island of Tristan da Cunha. ==Local government==

The island's local affairs are managed by the Island Council, a 14-member administration that meets six times a year and is elected every three years. ==Government services==

The town is home to the island's emergency services, which comprise one ambulance (a Toyota Hilux operated by Camogli Hospital), one fire engine (a Land Rover Defender with a small ladder) and one police car (Land Rover Series). The town administration also has a vehicle for official use. ==Places of interest and attractions==

Most buildings in town are single-story, with the largest being the factory and the tallest being St Joseph's Church. • St Mary's Anglican Church – built 1923 • St Joseph Catholic Church – built 1995–96 and replaced earlier church from 1983 • Camogli Hospital – built in 1971 to replace Station Hospital () • Calshot Harbour – built 1967, reinforcements and reconstructions made in 2008–2009 • Tristan Thatched House Museum – built in 2013, began by pensioners in January 2009 • Agriculture Department warehouse • Tristan Island Store – only supermarket on the island • Tristan Post Office, Tourism Centre and Café da Cunha – opened 2009 • Crayfish Canning Factory – built 1963 • Park 61 – volcanic park site • The Potato Patches – an area with potato farms have been used for over 150 years. In the area are camping huts. ==Notable people==

• William Glass (1786–1853), founder of the settlement • Harold Green (1934–2025), first Chief Islander • Lewis Glass (1948–2019), former Chief Islander • Anne Green (born 1952), Chief Islander • James Glass (born 1961), Chief Islander ==References==