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Saint Helena is the principal island in a group of islands comprised of Ascension Island and the Tristan da Cunha group in the south Atlantic that are dependencies of the United Kingdom.
The island of Saint Helena is at Latitude 16° South and Longitude 5° 45' West to the west of Namibia on the west coast of southern Africa.
Among the island's more famous guests was Napoleon Bonaparte who was exiled here for the last six years of his life.
The Saint Helena Institute and Saint Helena Tourism web sites are very informative.
Tristan da Cunha, a sister island of Saint Helena, lies approximately 1,530 miles to the south-southwest at Latitude 37.1° South and Longitude 12.3° West.
Gough Island Wildlife Reserve in the Tristan da Cunha Island Group of Saint Helena has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This area is southwest of Cape Town in South Africa.
Ascension Island, at Latitude 8° South and Longitude 14.4° West. is about 800 miles northwest of St. Helena. The Ascension Island Government web site is another good source of information about this island.
Capital: Jamestown (Saint Helena)
Transportation: No commercial airport. Access is by local ship service and cruise ships.
Currency: The St. Helena pound (£) is the basic monetary unit. For the current rate of exchange visit the Olson and Anderson web site.
Time Zones: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) year-round.
Languages: English
Visit the CIA World Fact Book site for other interesting particulars regarding St. Helena.
Travel Advisories: Travelers should check the web sites listed on our international pages that provide advice of possible security and health risks when visiting this region.