Helena is a constituent republic of Antarctic Region.
| Helena Republic | |
|---|---|
| Island of Saint Helena | |
| Constituent Republic of Vekllei | |
 |
|
| Part of the Antarctic Region | |
| Accession | 1836, as part of the British Atlantic Territories |
| Area | 121.8 km² |
| Capital | Plover |
| Languages | English |
| Population | 29,844 |
The Helena Republic is a constituent republic in the Atlantic Ocean, and part of the commonwealth of Antarctica. Of volcanic origin but with volcanic activity now extinct, Helena is home to around 20,000 people, most of whom live in the capital Plover. Its closest neighbour is the Vekllei republic of Ascension.
Helena is dominated by steep, conspicuous terrain with dramatic volcanic features. It has a pleasant, temperate climate cooled by the South Atlantic trade winds, that range 15-30°C across seasons. Its flora has evolved for millions of years in isolation, and has extraordinary biodiversity across its unique species. Human settlement is concentrated in the highlands and in narrow valleys on its coast.
Helenians are descended mostly from British, South Asians and Africans most of whom were brought over as slaves and servants in the early colonial history of the island. The practice of slavery continued until the late 18th Century when it was outlawed across the British Empire.
Helena was among the islands transferred to the British Atlantic Territories, which would eventually become the first Commonwealth of Oceans. It inherited membership in Vekllei upon independence.
The Helena economy is dominated by municipal goods (green vegetables, land stewardship, crafts) as well as the Port of Helena in Plover that is an important supply station between other Vekllei Antarctic territories. Helena is also home to the South Atlantic Radar Array. It has a single airport on the east of the island, and is serviced by small tramlines and funiculars.
- Adhesives
- Electronic Components
- Fish
- Glass
- Palm Oil
- Paper
- Printing Ink
- Pulp
- Rare Earths
- Salt
Climate
Mild and temperate year-round, cooled by South Atlantic trade winds. Temperatures range from 15 to 30°C across the seasons, with modest variation between summer and winter.
Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day 1 Jan
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Commonwealth Day 1 May
- Helena Day 21 May
- Christmas Day 25 Dec
- Boxing Day 26 Dec
- Longwood House Atlantic Hotel 30
- Helena South Atlantic Station Atlantis 120
- Airlink Helena Marine Station Commonwealth Airways 35
- Transatlantic Shipping Helena Station Commonwealth Lines 160
- Helena Mid-Atlantic Fuel Depot Commonwealth Oil 70
- Saint Helena Central Railway CommRail 501
- Jamestown & Longwood Elevated Railway CommRail 303
- Helena Cable Station Cosma 90
- Helena Atomic Plant General Reactor 80
- Fortress Helena
- Helena Citadel Oriental Division 1,890
- Oriental Ordnance Magazine Oriental Division 310
- Fortress Helena
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1836
The British Overseas Territories comprising Oslola, Kala and Demon are reincorporated as the British Atlantic Territories, including Anguilla, Lucaya, Habacoa, Summers, the Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands ( Caimanas), the Falklands, Montserrat ( Allia), Saint Helena ( Helena), Ascension ( Ascension), the Tristan da Cunha Islands ( Santes), the South Georgia and Sandwich Islands ( Sude), and the Turks and Caicos ( Caicos) Islands
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1790
Slavery is abolished in Helena
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1657
Helena is settled by the East India Company
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1502
Helena is discovered by Portugal