Ascension Island: The glacier that turned into a volcanic island
Have you heard of Socotra Island? Yes, it is one of the remotest places on Earth and the only abode of the exotic Dragon Blood’s Tree. In fact, Pandora, the fictional world in the sci-fi film Avatar is often said to be loosely based on it. That makes us wonder, is it the only island that is uninhabited and away from civilisation? Of course not. For one, there is Ascension Island that is equally isolated.
Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, it is one-of-a-kind volcanic island and stands as a gateway between Brazil (2300 kilometres away from the coast) and Africa (1600 kilometres away from the coast). In fact, the location is extremely strategic for trade, commerce, communication, and military activities.
From a glacier to a volcano
Experts say that the Ascension Island used to be one of the largest glaciers of the Southern Hemisphere during the Crustacean Period (145 to 66 million years ago). However, with passing time, the temperature rose, so much so, that it turned into a scorching volcanic site spread across 34 square miles with 44 distinct dormant craters. Once a glacial land, it gradually changed into an infertile land composed of broken lava stones, while the terrain continues to be a wasteland comprising of cinder stones. Not only that, but the soil is also clinker due to lack of rainfall and continuous geological eruptions, be it glacial or volcanic or both. Then, there are also various alkaline rocks such as basalt, trachyte and rhyolite all of which have been formed out of erosions following the last volcanic activity more than 500 years ago.
An island with many takers
Now a part of the British Overseas Territory, Ascension Island was first discovered by a Portuguese sailor Joao da Nova in 1501. A couple of years later, on Ascention Day (the Thursday forty days after Easter when the Christian community celebrates Christ’s ascension) Portuguese naval general Alphonse de Albuquerque rediscovered the island and gave it the name. However, since it was dry and barren, it was left uninhabited.
Soon, the naval troops realised that it was an ideal place for ships to harbour for a few days away from the civilisation, rest, engage in leisure activities such as hunting and above all as an open prison. In fact, it was for the last reason that this once-unknown island turned many eyeballs. While everyone attempted to send their prisoners away to the island, it was the Dutch people who first managed to do so in 1725 when Dutch naval captain Leondert Hussenlosch’s ship was knowingly redirected towards the island and then all communication was stopped. In 1726, when the British finally managed to discover the island, they could find the Dutchman’s belongings but not him. Since then, the British remained stationed on the island as they knew their arch rivals French were on their way to invade it. But as soon as the enemy fleet led by none other than Emperor Napoleon entered the island in 1815, the British captured him and his army and imprisoned them. They even claimed the island for their the then King George III.
Later, by 1821, the British turned the island into a sanatorium for West African slaves. Fast forward to 1899, Ascension Island was also used for the first ever submarine communications using cables by the Eastern Telegraph Company that connected Britain with all its oriental colonies such as South Africa. Interestingly, Second Boer War that was fought between the British and the South Africans also gained momentum from here, as both the sides had their bases on the island.
During the Second World War, the island was also borrowed by the USA to spy on German warships and to send weapons and troops for the ongoing war to their allies. In fact, the airfield set up by them is still very much in use and helped the British stage a crucial military attack during the 1982 Falklands War.
In 2002, the island officially became a democracy under the British sovereign. In fact, a governor was also sent to be headquartered in St. Helena for a few days. But guess what? No one likes to stay there permanently as it is unsuitable for living.
Flora & fauna
Even though humans have used the Ascension Island for various purposes throughout history, they haven’t really settled down there. As a result, only plants and animals have harboured on it. For instance, there is a largescale artificial forest full of Kew gardens that was a joint effort of Charles Darwin and Joseph Hookers, both botanist and explorer by profession. Currently, this region is called The Green Mountain. Here, several endangered species of endemic flora are now grown by the British. For instance, Ascension Island parsley fern that was earlier believed to be extinct can now be found in more than 60 numbers. Donkeys, lambs, cats and rats have also been introduced to the island who cohabit with native species of lizards and insects such as wingless Psocoptera and Giant Pseudoscorpion. The largest native land animal on the island is a land crab that lives in addition to open-aquatic species such as tuna, wahoo, bonito, barracuda, marlin, sailfish and blackfish. Birds too frequent the island including francolins, canaries, waxbills, sooty terns, petrels, boobies, white terns, and Ascension frigatebird.