Saint Helena

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Saint Helena's Information


Capital	Jamestown
Languages	English
Ethnic Groups	African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
Religion	Protestant 75.9% (includes Anglican 68.9, Baptist 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.8%, Salvation Army 1.7%, New Apostolic 1.4%), Jehovah's Witness 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.2%, other 2.5% (includes Baha'i), unspecified 0.8%, none 6.1%, no response 9.4%
Government	Parliamentary democracy (Legislative Council); limited self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Independance	None (overseas territory of the UK)
Area	308.00 km²
Land Area	308.00 km²
Population	7,795.00
Location	islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 1,300 km (800 mi) northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 4,300 km (2,700 mi) southwest of Saint Helena
GDP(PPP)	$31,100,000.00 (USD)
Export Commodities	Its main exports are fish, coffee, and handicrafts.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include food, beverages, tobacco, and fuel oils.
Climate	Tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain	The islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge

Where is Saint Helena?

Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, Saint Helena is an island nation. It has a 60.00 km coastline.

The capital city of Saint Helena is Jamestown, located in the northern part of the island and surrounded by the Longwood and Ruperts districts. Jamestown's location provided early settlers with a port city that remains the only one in the country to this day. The English East India Trading Company settled on the island in 1659 and was also occupied by the Dutch East India Trading Company briefly in 1673. Interestingly, Jamestown hosted Napoleon in 1815 during his forced exile as well as becoming a base in the British Navy's efforts to suppress the slave trade. The climate of Jamestown is considered a hot desert environment with very consistent temperatures throughout the year. Although classed as a desert climate, the cool ocean current moderates the weather so that the temperatures do not get overly hot in the city. Throughout the year, the average low temperature is 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) and the average high is 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Geography

Saint Helena has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate characterized by constant sea breezes. The terrain of the islands are volcanic, and associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge.

Population

Saint Helena has a population of 7,795 making it the 224th largest in the world.

English is the primary language spoken. The major ethnic groups reported are African, white, and Chinese. The majority of the country is Protestant Christian.

The official language of Saint Helena is English with a distinctive local flavor to certain words and phrases. English evolved from the Anglia tribes from Germany who migrated to England and has become the de facto language for many British Territories such as the island of Saint Helena. Citizens of Saint Helena are also citizens of the United Kingdom and the English language has historically provided a common method of communication between the two countries. The population of Saint Helena is just 4,534, as measured by the 2016 National Census. All of the inhabitants of the nation speak English, either Standard British English or the local dialect that includes influences from across the world. English is used as the only language for the media, government, and religious ceremonies in Saint Helena. The English dialect spoken in Saint Helena is a hybridized language consisting of phrases and sounds from African, European, Indian, and Asian languages among the British English lexicon. Minority languages in Saint Helena are incredibly scarce as the non-Europeans on the island from Africa, India, and Malaysia have not maintained their original culture which includes language.

Government

It is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Its constitution was last ratified in 2009.

The political system of Saint Helena is considered an environment of limited self-governance as a dependent of the United Kingdom. Since 2009, Saint Helena has been subject to its present constitution that vests legislative power in the Governor of Saint Helena and the Legislative Council. The Governor of Saint Helena is the head of government, holding executive power and representing the United Kingdoms monarchy and government. Saint Helena has been governed by British citizens since it became a colony in 1834 and Phillips represents the 36th Governor in the history of the country. The Governor is responsible for facilitating the aid (economic or military) that Saint Helena receives from the British government. Elections in Saint Helena for the legislative council take place every four years, the most recent taking place in 2017. The country is divided into eight districts but during elections is considered one electorate. The Governor is appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on advice from the government and the longest terms have lasted five years.

Economy

The currency of Saint Helena is the Pound (SHP).

Its major imports include food, beverages, tobacco, and fuel oils.

Flag

The flag of Saint Helena consists of a royal blue field with a Union Jack in the top left-hand corner. On the right-hand side lies the coat of arms of Saint Helena which consists of a shield, with the national bird (the Saint Helena Plover), also known as a wirebird, as well as a coastal scene of the island in the shield. This depiction of Saint Helena shows a ship off the island flying the national flag of England and also the motto "Loyal and unshakable" below the ship. This flag was officially adopted on 4 October 1984 and is flown prominently throughout the island. Prior flags of Saint Helena include the Union Jack and the Red Ensign of England, as is common with many other territories. Saint Helena was an important hub for traders and the flag of the East India Company was also used in some areas. The flag used from 1874-1984 is very similar to the current flag but does not feature the Saint Helena Plover. The flag of Saint Helena was designed and commissioned in order to mark the 150th anniversary of Saint Helena becoming a British Crown Territory. Governor Massingham was instrumental in this flag becoming the national symbol of Saint Helena. The Saint Helena coat of arms was designed by the Garter King of Arms, in London, under close consultation with the government.