Map of Pitcairn Islands | Pitcairn Islands Flag, Places to visit and Interesting Facts
Love discovering hidden gems and new places? Oceania is full of those with so many islands just waiting for you to be discovered. These islands elevate what vacations mean and offer in general with their beautiful scenery an experience that cannot be duped. With exceptionally clean beaches, unique floral and fauna and hospitable people who treat you like they have known you for ages, Pitcairn Islands offer all of this and a lot more. Get to know more about the place here!
Map of Pitcairn Islands
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Does Pitcairn Island have electricity?
Due to the very small population on the island, there are no plants to generate electricity mainly because there is no need for it. Their requirements are fulfilled by a giant generator that is turned on for only a few hours per day and it is strictly shut off around 10 P.M. It is like a completely different world.
Is Pitcairn Islands a country?
Contrary to the popular belief, Pitcairn Islands is not a country but an overseas British territory. In 1789, British sailors mutinied and settled on two islands; Tahiti and Pitcairn. The mutineers on Tahiti Island were caught but those who remained on Pitcairn were able to start a new life and a whole new community. Pitcairn officially became a British territory in 1838. The people living now on the islands are descendants of the previously living mutineers. The island has the authority to function as a representative democracy and the UK is responsible for the island’s defense and foreign affairs.
How many islands are there in the Pitcairn Islands?
There are only four islands that make up the Pitcairn Islands! Unbelievably small, yes. However, these four islands have several islets as well. These islands came into being by a center of upwelling magma which is now known as Pitcairn hotspot. The islands are located towards the southeast of French Polynesia. Out of the four islands, only Pitcairn Island is inhabited despite Henderson Island being the biggest one and covering over 86% of the territory’s total land area. The reason behind its inhibition is the difficulty of its accessibility. The place can easily support the human population but getting to the place itself is a challenge of its own with steep limestone cliffs that are covered by sharp coral.
Pitcairn Islands Flag
Unlike the bigger countries, the flags of these islands often have more on display not just to stand out but because of how unique their culture is and they often require complicated figures to perfectly encompass and represent themselves. Similarly, the Pitcairn Islands has a coat of arms that is used in the flag. This was granted by the royal warrant in 1969. The flag itself was adopted in 1984 with the overall design suggested and agreed upon by the Pitcairn Island Council and Queen Elizabeth II also approved it in 1984.
Colors and meaning of the flag of Pitcairn Islands
The flag of Pitcairn Islands is rather complex with the use of several colors other than the colors that are used in the flag of the United Kingdom; blue, red and white. The coat of arms incorporates green, yellow, red, white, brown and a lighter shade of blue. The coat of arms symbolizes the ancestral history of the inhabitants there. There is a shield with the anchor and Bible from HMS Bounty. The green and blue colors are meant to represent the rise of the island from the ocean. The rest of the flag is blue with the flag of the United Kingdom present on the upper left corner.
Population of Pitcairn Islands
The population of Pitcairn Islands is lesser than your town. The people there are called Pitkerners and Pitcairnese. Only 50 people are living on the island! These people are Euronesians and mostly belong to British and Tahitian people. They follow the mainstream Pitcairn culture which is a mixture of Polynesian and British culture.
Languages spoken in Pitcairn Islands
The official language is Pitkern which is also called Pitcairn-Norfolk or Pitcairnese. The language is derived from Tahitian and English. English is also widely spoken and known throughout the island so you can easily communicate with the very small but loving community of the Pitcairn Islands.
Interesting facts about the Pitcairn Islands
This little island packs a lot of history and fun facts that will make your stay here not just a joy on its own but interesting too. Here are a few facts to know about the Pitcairn Islands
- The very first inhabitants may not be English. After research and discovery of several artefacts, the researchers found things that relate the people who first lived there to be of Polynesian descent.
- It is the world’s smallest democratic nation in terms of population.
- The waters here are so clean that the corals here grow at unexpected depths.
- World’s deepest living plant, a type of encrusting coralline algae is abundantly found here.
- Underwater mountains are surrounding Pitcairns, a total of 69 formed due to submarine volcanoes.
Places to visit in Pitcairn Islands
UNESCO has declared Pitcairn Islands to be a World Heritage site and all for a good reason. With tourism being their main source of income, the people there ensure that you have a good time. Here are a few places to visit on your trip to the Pitcairn Islands
- Mata ki te Rangi – A beautiful land is not just what Pitcairn has to offer but also skies like you have never seen before. The Pitcairn Islands are known for their dark skies without any light pollution and now it has the status of International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
- Marine Reserve – Pitcairn has one of the world’s largest marine reserves with amazing creatures like humpback whales.
- Wrecks of the HMS Bounty – Are you a fan of history? Get to experience it all for yourself by scuba diving to the wrecks and also explore the beautiful and unique marine life present there.
- Pitcairn Island Museum – Built-in 2004, learn more about the very small yet full of culture and history, community here with the museum full of artefacts from ancient Polynesians.
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