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| Independence Year : Population : 6000 Life Expectancy : 76.8 Capital : 3063 GNP : 0.00 GNP Old : 0.00 Local Name : Saint Helena Government Form : Dependent Territory of the UK Location : islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa Terrain : Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateausand plains note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin Climate : Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena) Ethnic Group : African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25% Religions : Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic Official Website :www.discoveroursecret.co.sh | 
Genral Information - Saint Helena
History
Saint Helena has a history of over 500 years since it was first discovered as an uninhabited island by the Portuguese in 1502. Claiming to be Britain’s second oldest colony, this is one of the most isolated islands in the world and was for several centuries of vital strategic importance to ships sailing to Europefrom Asia and South Africa. For several centuries the British have used the island as a place of exile, most notably for Napoleon Bonaparte, Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo and over 5,000 Boer prisoners. The overcrowding in Brisbane's gaols resulted in the conversion of the buildings, originally intended for a quarantine station, into accommodation for prisoners. Prison labour was used for all activities on the island, from the construction of buildings and roadways to growing, processing and cooking of food. The first few years were devoted to construction of the two cell blocks, kitchen, bakehouse, hospital, underground tanks, stables, boathouse, storehouse, jetty and Superintendent's home. This formed the base of a building program which continued until the prison's last years. In 1869, the lime kiln and sugar mill were added. Sugar cane growing and processing kept the prisoners busy until the workshops were well enough established to take over as the main source of work on the Island. These trades included bootmaking, sail-making, tailoring, saddle-making, tinsmithing, candle making, book-binding and carpentry. The long termers were occupied in these workshops inside the prison stockade and the trustees engaged in animal husbandry and agriculture. |
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