St Helena

Locator map for the British colony of St Helena. The island is located in the south Atlantic, 1,900 km/1,200 mi west of the southwestern coast of Africa.

The badge of St Helena shows the island's rugged coastline and a ship of the East India Company, flying the St George's cross. Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, dependencies of St Helena, also fly this flag.

British island in the south Atlantic, 1,900 km/1,200 mi west of Africa, area 122 sq km/47 sq mi; population (1997) 5,644. Its capital is Jamestown, and it exports fish and timber. Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are dependencies.

St Helena became a British possession in 1673, and a colony in 1834. Napoleon died in exile here in 1821.

Native to St Helena is the extremely rare giant earwig Labidura herculeana, which can grow up to 8 cm/3 in long, the largest species of earwig in the world.