The Forgotten Island – Tristan da Cunha

Lost out in the middle of the South Atlantic between South Africa and South America, lies the volcanic island Tristan da Cunha. Now under British rule, it is named after the Portuguese conqueror who discovered it in 1506.

Early attempts at settlement failed until, in 1816, the island was populated by English sailors, followed by shipwrecked Italians, African pirates and various scattered soldiery. The 300 descendants of these first inhabitants still living on the island today are all related - there are only eight surnames among them. Far from civilization, the islanders live a hard-working, monotonous life on their 195 square miles of waterbound homeland.

48’
BBC ”Under the Sun”, BBC Worldwide, ARTE, WDR