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WHY THE ASCENSION ISLAND IS A BEAUTIFUL GEOGRAPHICAL LOGIC FAIL

Added on: 27th Nov 2016

 

FIXING DARWIN'S PROBLEMS

ASCENSION_ISLAND_-_DEVIL'S_ASHPIT

The current plan to reverse the damage includes

introducing a variety of invasive species to combat the

invasive species which are currently running rampant

on the island. (But how can we be sure that the new

invasive species won’t become as bad as the old ones?)

 

 

ISLAND MONEY

british pounds

Now this really doesn’t make sense. Though the Ascension

Island is part of the British Overseas Territory of

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha,

the latter uses the mainland British pound sterling while

St. Helena and Ascension use the Saint Helena pound.

 

 

YET ANOTHER INVASIVE SPECIES

ascension island with radar dishes

While setting up transmitters to beam signals to Africa and

South America, BBC crews introduced an invasive species

called the Mexican thorn to hold the top soil together.

What seemed like a good idea at the time has led to

massive ecosystem destruction. Just as the engineers

laid down roots, the Mexican thorn sends down roots

up to 100ft (30m) deep.

 

 

A SPACE HUB

Nike_Zeus_Target_Track_Radar_Preparing_to_Lower_Radome_Cover_Ascension_Island

The European Space Agency tracks rocket launches from

the island and NASA monitored the famous Apollo moon

landing from its crags. Nowadays, heaps of satellite

dishes are dotted around the mountains.

 

 

ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING NATIVE SPECIES

land crab

The largest native land animal on Ascension Island is the land crab.

 

 

TURTLE SOUP

Green sea turtle [Red Sea, Egypt]

Ascension’s turtles used to be a popular meal for passing sailors.

The seafarers would bring turtles on board and turn them

on their backs, often keeping them alive for weeks at a

time before boiling them into a soup.

 

 

ASCENSION'S EXPORTS

Stamp_Ascension_1937_1.5p

Ascension Island imports most of its food and supplies, but

it does have two notable export items: postage stamps and

commemorative coins.

 

 

THE CASTAWAY

Marooned_(close_up)

Dutch mariner Leendert Hasenbosch was exiled on

Ascension in 1725 for being homosexual. Sailors who

arrived the following year found his diary which included

his frantic search for resources on the barren island.

To extend his survival, Hasenbosch even took to

drinking turtle blood. His body has never been found.

 


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