Ascension Island

Category: Harbor

Ascension Island is an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, around 994 miles from the coast of Africa. It is a dependency of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, which is 800 miles to the south east. The Portuguese explorer João da Nova is believed to be the first person to discover the island (in 1501), but did not report it.
A volcanic peak rising from just west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, much of the island is a wasteland of lava flows and cinder cones; no fewer than forty-four distinct craters have been identified. Off the east coast of Ascension is the tiny island of Boatswain Bird Island. It is a haven for sea birds, to get away from the rats, cats and people that came to Ascension Island from Europe and Africa.
The island hosts one of five ground antennas (others are on Kwajalein, Diego Garcia, Colorado Springs and Hawaii) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational system.