Gough and Inaccessible Islands
UNESCO World Heritage site | |
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| |
Location | Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territories, United Kingdom |
Includes | |
Criteria | Natural: (vii), (x) |
Reference | 740bis |
Inscription | 1995 (19th Session) |
Extensions | 2004 |
Area | 7,900 ha (20,000 acres) |
Buffer zone | 390,000 ha (960,000 acres) |
Coordinates | 40°19′29″S 9°55′43″W / 40.32472°S 9.92861°WCoordinates: 40°19′29″S 9°55′43″W / 40.32472°S 9.92861°W |
Official name | Gough Island |
Designated | 20 November 2008 |
Reference no. | 1868 |
Area | 229,811 ha (567,880 acres) |
Official name | Inaccessible Island |
Designated | 20 November 2008 |
Reference no. | 1869 |
Area | 126,524 ha (312,650 acres) |
Gough and Inaccessible Islands is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the archipelago of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean. It consists of Gough Island (40°19′S 9°56′W / 40.32°S 9.94°W) and Inaccessible Island. (37°18′S 12°41′W / 37.30°S 12.68°W)
The islands are uninhabited apart from the personnel of a weather station. They are Important Bird Areas and Alliance for Zero Extinction sites.[1]
The spectacled petrel is believed to nest only on Inaccessible Island.[2]
History
Gough Island was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1995.[3] In 2004 the site was extended. The marine zone of Gough Island was extended from 3 to 12 miles and Inaccessible Island was included with the surrounding marine zone extending out to 12 miles. The site was renamed Gough and Inaccessible Islands.[4]
The selection criteria for the site do not include its geomorphic interest. However, there has been ongoing discussion of including Gough and Inaccessible Islands in a possible "serial trans-boundary nomination" for the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which would include other volcanic sites in the Atlantic.[5]
Gallery
- Gough and Inaccessible Islands.
- View of cliffs
- View of cliffs
- View of cliffs
- Penguin
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2015). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gough Island. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 01/02/2015
- ↑ BirdLife International (2015). Species factsheet: Procellaria conspicillata. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/01/2015.
- ↑ "UNESCO Committee Decision 19COM VIII.A.1", 1995, retrieved 12 February 2014
- ↑ "UNESCO Committee Decision 28COM 14B.17", 2004, retrieved 12 February 2014
- ↑ "Mid-Atlantic Ridge". Retrieved 19 January 2015.