BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Revillagigedo Islands Discovered — December 28, 1533 by Spanish explorer Hernando de Grijalva Islands — 4 (Socorro, San Benedicto, Roca Partida & Clarión) Type — Volcanic Country — Mexico Location — Eastern Pacific Ocean Co-Ordinates — 18°49’N 112°46’W Time Zone — (-7 hours) GMT Total Area — 157.81 km2 San Benedictio (5.94km2) Socorro (132.06km2) Roca Partida (0.014km2) Clarión (19.80km2)
Highest Peak — Mount Evermann 1130m (Socorro) Population — Socorro (250) Clarión (9) (Naval Stations) Otherwise uninhabited Other Information — Nicknamed Mexico’s ‘Little Galapogos, No reliable fresh water source, No tourism facilities. Ecology — Socorro Dove & Socorro Elf Owl are now extinct in the wild. The Socorro Mockingbirds, Parakeets & Puffins are also under threat. Variety of Manta Rays & Sharks including the Great White.
BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Kermadec Islands Discovered — Polynesian people settled the Kermadec Islands in the 14th century, The first Europeans to reach the area — the Lady Penrhyn in May 1788 — found no inhabitants. Islands — 15 (The main islands include Raoul, Macauley, Curtis, Cheeseman & Meyer
Population — Uninhabited apart from a permanently manned governement meteorological station on Raoul Island. Other Information — The islands are peaks of volcanoes from the largest underwater volcanic arc in the world, frequently hit by earthquakes, Raoul & Curtis Islands are active volcanoes, the Islands sit along the 8km deep Kermadec Ridge, Several earthquakes of over 7 on the Richter Scale have been reported.
Type — Volcanic, Subtropical Country — New Zealand Location — South Western Pacific Ocean Co-Ordinates — 29°16’37”S 177°55’24”W Time Zone — (+13 hours) GMT Total Area — 33.08 km2 Highest Peak — Moumoukai peak 516 m (Raoul)
Ecology — Recognised as a distinct ecoregion, 23 endemic plant species, Dense subtropical forest on Raoul, Kermadec Red-crowned Parakeet is endemic,
BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Tristan da Cunha Discovered — The islands were first sighted in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha, although rough seas prevented a landing.
Population — 264 people live on Tristan da Cunha itself. The other islands are uninhabited.
Other Information — The islands are the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying 2,816 kilometres (1,750 mi) Islands — 4 Main Islands: Tristan da Cunha, from the nearest land. Inaccessible Island, Gough Island, Nightingale Islands (+Middle Island & Ecology — The Inaccessible Island Rail is Stoltenhoff Island the smallest extant flightless bird in the world and endemic to Inaccessible Island, Type — Volcanic The climate is marine subtropical with small temperature differences between Country — United Kingdom summer and winter and between day and night. Location — Southern Atlantic Ocean Co-Ordinates — 37°6’44”S 12°16’56”W Time Zone — (+/- 0 hours) GMT Total Area — 207 km2 Highest Peak — Queen Mary’s Peak 2,062m
BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Jan Mayen Discovered — Jan Mayen was discovered in the summer of 1614, probably within one month by three separate expeditions. The Dutchman Fopp Gerritsz, while in command of a whaling expedition claimed (in 1631) to have discovered the island on June 28 and named it Isabella. Islands — 1 Type — Volcanic Country — Norway Location — Norwegian Sea Co-Ordinates — 170°59’N 8°32’W Time Zone — (+1 hours) GMT Total Area — 373 km2 Highest Peak — Beerenberg Volcano 2,277m
Population — 15-13 (Norwegian Armed Forces or the Norwegian Meteorological Institute) Other Information — Previously used by the Dutch as a whaling base, Skiing, Snowboarding & Climbing is possible, the Northern Lights are visible from Jan Mayen
Ecology — Polar climate similar to Greenland, there are several glaciers and lagoons, Polar Bears appear on the island.
BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Pitcairn Islands Discovered — The original settlers of the Pitcairn Islands were Polynesians who appear to have lived on Pitcairn and Henderson for several centuries. Although archaeologists believe that Polynesians were living on Pitcairn as late as the 15th century, the islands were uninhabited when they were discovered by Europeans. Islands — 4 (Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno) Type — Volcanic Country — UK Location — Pacific Ocean Co-Ordinates — 25°04’00”S 130°05’00”W Time Zone — (-8 hours) GMT Total Area — 47 km2
Population — 67 (Only the 2nd largest islands - Pitcairn is inhabited) It has reduced drastically since the 1930’s when it was 250. Other Information — Pitcairn is the least populous jurisdiction in the world, Pitcairn Island became a British colony in 1838 Ecology — 9 endemic plant species, The fertile soil of the Pitcairn valleys produces a wide variety of fruits: including bananas, papaya, pineapples, mangoes, watermelons, rockmelons, passionfruit, breadfruit, coconuts, avocadoes, and citrus. Vegetables include: sweet potatoes, carrots, sweet corn, tomatoes, taro, yams, peas, and beans. Arrowroot and sugarcane are grown and harvested to produce arrowroot flour and molasses. Pitcairn Island is remarkably productive and its benign climate allows a wide range of tropical and temperate crops to be grown.