Search Geography Explorer

Search countries, cities, rivers, lakes, deserts, oceans, islands and more

Fun facts about Saint Helena

5 facts - tap any card to flip it and learn more.

Discover more facts
João da Nova, a Galician navigator serving the Portuguese Empire, was the first person to sight Saint Helena.
island

Saint Helena was named after Saint Helena of Constantinople by João da Nova, who sighted the island in 1502.

Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Tap to learn more
island

Saint Helena

United Kingdom

Area
122 km²
Location
United Kingdom
60th largest island in the world

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa. The nearest countries geographically are Angola and Namibia. The island is about 1,950 km (1,210 mi) west of Angola, and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public Domain

Fact 1 permalink
João da Nova, a Galician navigator serving the Portuguese Empire, was the first person to sight Saint Helena.
island

The island's highest point is Diana's Peak, which stands at 818 meters (2,684 feet).

Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Tap to learn more
island

Saint Helena

United Kingdom

Area
122 km²
Location
United Kingdom
60th largest island in the world

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa. The nearest countries geographically are Angola and Namibia. The island is about 1,950 km (1,210 mi) west of Angola, and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public Domain

Fact 2 permalink
João da Nova, a Galician navigator serving the Portuguese Empire, was the first person to sight Saint Helena.
island

Saint Helena is divided into eight districts, which serve as both community centers and statistical divisions.

Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Tap to learn more
island

Saint Helena

United Kingdom

Area
122 km²
Location
United Kingdom
60th largest island in the world

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa. The nearest countries geographically are Angola and Namibia. The island is about 1,950 km (1,210 mi) west of Angola, and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

From the “Administrative divisions” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public Domain

Fact 3 permalink
João da Nova, a Galician navigator serving the Portuguese Empire, was the first person to sight Saint Helena.
island

The first settler of Saint Helena was Fernão Lopes, a Portuguese soldier who lived as a hermit on the island for over 20 years.

Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Tap to learn more
island

Saint Helena

United Kingdom

Area
122 km²
Location
United Kingdom
60th largest island in the world

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa. The nearest countries geographically are Angola and Namibia. The island is about 1,950 km (1,210 mi) west of Angola, and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

From the “Population” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public Domain

Fact 4 permalink
João da Nova, a Galician navigator serving the Portuguese Empire, was the first person to sight Saint Helena.
island

The Executive Council of Saint Helena is presided over by the governor, who acts as the head of government.

Saint Helena
United Kingdom
Tap to learn more
island

Saint Helena

United Kingdom

Area
122 km²
Location
United Kingdom
60th largest island in the world

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa. The nearest countries geographically are Angola and Namibia. The island is about 1,950 km (1,210 mi) west of Angola, and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

From the “Government” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public Domain

Fact 5 permalink