Everything you need to know about Ascension Island as government considers migrant processing centre
British Ministers have reportedly resurrected early proposals to send illegal migrants to overseas islands as an alternative to solve the Rwanda issue.
One such island – Ascension Island – is thought to be a possibility to take migrants to before a permanent destination for them is found.
The remoteness for the island was suggested years ago by Priti Patel as one reason why it was taken under consideration, as it would act as a deterrent to anyone planning to enter the country illegally.
It’s a strange little island with a lot of history, despite being relatively unknown. NASA tracked the Apollo Moon landings from Ascension Island and The European Space Agency monitors rocket launches from here.
But just where is it, and does anyone live there?
Where is Ascension Island?
Ascension Island is a volcanic island in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean.
It’s roughly 4,100 miles from the UK, 1,000 miles from the coast of Africa and 1,400 miles from the coast of South America.
Who owns Ascension Island?
Ascension Island is one of the British Overseas Territories. Officially, Ascension Island is part of the territory of St Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha.
The three islands together are presided over by a governor appointed by King Charles.
The island was reportedly first spotted in 1501, but its official date of discovery is listed as May 21, 1503.
That date was a holiday, Ascension Day, and this is how the island got its name.
The area has been under British control since 1815.
Do people live on Ascension Island?
The population of Ascension Island is tiny, and because it’s a working island, everyone on the island is there to work or to accompany someone who works.
The island is currently home to a Royal Air Force station with a runway extended to serve as an emergency landing strip for the now decommissioned US Space Shuttles.
There are two main settlements – Georgetown and Two Boats – and the Island also contains two military bases, a runway at Wideawake Airfield and a BBC relay station.
The website for the Ascension Island government states that, while population fluctuates, approximately 800 people live on the island at any one point.
To enter, you must get the written permission of the King’s representative, known (quite dramatically) as the Administrator.
How big is Ascension Island?
The entire island is 88 square kilometres. For comparison, the UK is approximately 244,820 square kilometres.
The lower coastal areas are hot and dry, and the island is dominated by the 859m Green Mountain.
Life on Ascension Island
On the island, they use the Saint Helena Pound (SHP) for currency, which is fixed at a parity with the sterling.
Both the pound sterling and the Saint Helena pound are accepted at retail outlets on the bars, and the US Air Force Base also accepts US Dollars.
There are just a handful of shops, but there’s also a gym, several swimming pools, a cinema, and plenty of outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, cycling, snorkelling and SCUBA diving.
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