The last British Overseas Territory in the Pacific, the Pitcairn Islands, are a group of four islands extended over several hundred miles in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Of the four, only Pitcairn is inhabited.
Henderson Island, the largest of the group, is presently uninhabited, although archeological evidence shows that a Polynesian settlement existed there between the 12th and 15th centuries. Henderson Island makes up about 86% of the island group's land area and supports a variety of animals in its nearly inaccessible interior. The island would be capable of supporting a small human population despite the scarcity of potable water, but access is difficult. Henderson is a raised coral atoll. The coral limestone island sits on top of a volcanic mound. Except for the north end, the coastline of Henderson Island is made of steep limestone cliffs up to a height of nearly fifty feet. In the island's center is a raised lagoon. A spring on the north shore is the island's only drinkable water source. In 1988, Henderson Island was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.
Also known as Holiday Island, Oeno Island is about eighty-nine miles northwest of Pitcairn Island. Although it has no permanent population, it serves as a holiday site for residents of Pitcairn Island, who stay there for two weeks in January. The island has forest and scrub growth at the southwestern portion of the atoll's lagoon. There is a water tap installed on the island for drinking. Oeno has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International, largely for its colony of Murphy's petrels, believed to be the second largest in the world.
More than three hundred miles east of Pitcairn Island, Ducie Island is an uninhabited atoll that includes a lagoon and four islets: Acadia, Edwards, Pandora, and Westward. Ducie has a total land area of 1.5 square miles. Although the island was visited frequently since it was first discovered in 1606, Ducie Island is rarely visited today. More than 90% of Murphy's petrels in the world nest on Ducie, however.
Pitcairn is the only populated island in the group, and it had a population of under 70 in 2011. The first settlers of the islands were Polynesians who lived on both Pitcairn and Henderson islands for several centuries but left before the islands were discovered by Europeans in the early 1600s. The island was named for a 15-year-old midshipman, Robert Pitcairn, of the HMS Swallow, who was the first to sight the island.
The first Europeans to settle the island were nine of the mutineers from the HMS Bounty, who came to the island in 1790, along with a small group of Tahitians. They set fire to the HMS Bounty, and the wreck is still visible underwater. Although alcoholism, murder, and disease took the lives of most of the original settlers, many of its current residents are descendants of the mutineers and their Tahitian wives. By the time the British were able to locate the mutineers, John Adams was the only one of the mutineers still alive, and he was given amnesty.
In 1832, a missionary arrived and founded a temperance society, a monthly prayer meeting, a juvenile society, a peace society, and a school. Pitcairn Island was made a British colony in 1838. By the 1850s, the population of the Pitcairn community was outgrowing the ability of the island to sustain them. Britain offered Norfolk Island, and the entire population of Pitcairn Island moved to Norfolk in 1856. Just over a year later, seventeen of them decided to return, and they were followed by another twenty-seven five years later. A Seventh-day Adventist missionary came in 1886 and converted most of the Islanders. Ever since most Pitcairners have been Adventists.
Pitcairn Island is accessible only by boat through Bounty Bay. Its population supports itself by subsistence farming and fishing, through honey production, and tourism.
Recommended Resources
Located on Big Flower, a terraced hill above Adamstown on Pitcairn Island, the open-plan guest accommodation offers views of the island from nearly every room. Built in 2005, the site offers an account of the building of the structure, introduces the hosts, and provides an account of living on Pitcairn Island. The accommodations are described and shown in pictures, and products manufactured on the island are exhibited.
http://www.young.pn/
Government of the Pitcairn Islands
The British Overseas Territory is made up primarily of the islands of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno, and its administrative headquarters are in Auckland, New Zealand. A history of the Pitcairn Islands, a government overview, and information about its natural resources, tourism assets, and products are set forth. Other resources include a monthly newsletter, a tourist guide, and information about Pitcairn Islands stamps.
http://www.pitcairn.pn/
Pitcairn Immigration and Repopulation
The Pitcairn Islands is a British Overseas Territory, accessible only by sea, and one of the world’s most remote areas. The government agency is concerned with issues of immigration and repopulation of this sparsely populated island, including attracting new immigrants. The island is profiled, along with an overview of its history, economy, land, and community, as well as its immigration policies. Visa and settlement application forms may be downloaded from the site.
http://www.immigration.gov.pn/
The Pitcairn Islands is a British Overseas Territory that is made up of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno islands, as well as a few surrounding islets. The official government website offers information about its immigration and visa policies, its constitution, laws, and strategic development plan. A history of the island is set forth, and notices are published to the site. Tourism and products developed on the island are noted.
http://www.government.pn/
Pitcairn islands Philatelic Bureau
Based in New Zealand, the group represents the Pitcairn Island Post office, and its site is largely dedicated to supporting the interests of stamp collectors in the highly collectible Pitcairn Islands stamps, the first of which was issued in 1940. Special issue stamps are described and shown in detail and, when available, offered for sale, as well as its annual collections. Purchases may be made from the site.
http://www.stamps.gov.pn/
Pitcairn Islands Producers Cooperative
PIPCO is a producer of honey, propolis, and soap. The small group packs its produce every three months, shipping it to customers. Describing its honey as disease and chemical free, its honey is highlighted on the site. Its web store features its honey products, which include the honey itself, as well as propolis tincture, honey soap, and other gifts, such as Christmas decorations and promotional tee-shirts.
http://www.pipco.pn/
Formed in 1973, PISG seeks to help people increase their knowledge and interest in the islands of the Pitcairn Islands group, and to study and research all types of island life, including historical accounts, the geography of the island, and the customs and language of its people, as well as helping people start and develop collections of Pitcairn Island stamps. A photo gallery, membership information, and various publications are available.
http://www.pisg.net/
Established in 2010, the tourism department of the Government of Pitcairn Islands offers a profile of the islands and makes suggestions for sustainable island heritage tourism. With access to the island being by boat only, the site discusses its dedicated passenger ship and highlights several accommodation options available on Pitcairn, including full board home stays, semi-private studio apartments, and fully furnished homes.
http://www.visitpitcairn.pn/
Created and maintained by Mark Winthrop, A Danish citizen who visited the island and took an interest in it, the site features a history of the island, as well as a statement as to why the author was interested in it. The geography of the island, a map, and an overview of its flora and fauna, photographs, and first-hand accounts and other stories are set forth. Maps of the other islands in the Pitcairn group are also included.
http://www.winthrop.dk/hender.html
World Facebook: Pitcairn Islands
The United States Central Intelligence Agency presents a profile of the Pitcairn Islands that includes a map showing their location, as well as the main cities on the islands, photos, and a representation of its flag. The country's governmental structure, geographical features, and natural resources are included, along with its economy, communications systems, transportation, and international issues.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pc.html
