Gough and Inaccessible Islands

Gough Island
Inaccessible Island
Location of Gough Island and Inaccessible Island in the South Atlantic Ocean
Gough and Inaccessible Islands
UNESCO World Heritage site
Location Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territories, United Kingdom
Includes
  1. Gough Island Wildlife Reserve
  2. Inaccessible Island
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°W / -40.32472; -9.92861Coordinates: 40°19′29″S 9°55′43″W / 40.32472°S 9.92861°W / -40.32472; -9.92861
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 / -40.32; -9.94) and Inaccessible Island. (37°18′S 12°41′W / 37.30°S 12.68°W / -37.30; -12.68)

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]

Tristan da Cunha archipelago

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]

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2015). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gough Island. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 01/02/2015
  2. ↑ BirdLife International (2015). Species factsheet: Procellaria conspicillata. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/01/2015.
  3. ↑ "UNESCO Committee Decision 19COM VIII.A.1", 1995, retrieved 12 February 2014
  4. ↑ "UNESCO Committee Decision 28COM 14B.17", 2004, retrieved 12 February 2014
  5. ↑ "Mid-Atlantic Ridge". Retrieved 19 January 2015.
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