Pitcairn Island is the only inhabited island of the
Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands ( ; Pitkern: '), officially Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, are a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the sole British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the ...
, in the southern
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...
, of which many inhabitants are descendants of
mutineers of
HMS ''Bounty''.
Geography
The island is of volcanic origin, with a rugged cliff coastline. Unlike many other South Pacific islands, it is not surrounded by coral reefs that protect the coast. The only access to the island is via a small pier on
Bounty Bay.
Adamstown is the sole settlement.
Pawala Valley Ridge is the island's highest point at above sea level.
The volcanic soil and tropical climate with abundant rainfall make the soil productive.
The average temperature ranges from . The annual rainfall is .
Fauna
Indigenous fauna consists of insects and lizards. Since their introduction, rats have become an
invasive species
An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native spec ...
.
A large number of seabirds nest along the steep shorelines.
As coral reefs are absent, fishing is offshore. Sharks,
sea bream
Sparidae is a family of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Spariformes, the seabreams and porgies, although they were traditionally classified in the order Perciformes. The over 150 species are found in shallow and deep marine waters in te ...
, barracudas and tuna are all abundant. Whale migrations are seen yearly.
See also
*
History of the Pitcairn Islands
*
Pitcairn Radio Station
References
External links
Pacific Union College ''History of Pitcairn Island''
{{Pitcairn
Islands of the Pitcairn Islands
Volcanic islands