Truly amazing. Via a chance click on a 'Webbing the Islands' blog in the 'Recently Published' list, I've discovered a whole new world out there, a Global Islands Network, linking islands around the world - a 'must' for a born islander like myself - and I've found that there is an island called Amsterdam and a perfectly whacky website complete with boat and bottle that tells you about it: Amsterdam. For an easier trip try this one: Amsterdam Island.
Amsterdam ( 37°50'S, 77°30'E ) is a very small (8km by 6km!) volcanic island that erupted out of the fault separating the Indian Ocean from the Antartic Ocean. Ít's about 3,000 km away from any continent, half way between South Africa and Australia and, with it's only neighbour, St. Paul's, it's one of the most isolated places in the world. It was named by Dutch Governor Van Diemen who happened to pass by there on his way to Java on 17 June 1633. Nowadays, it's part of the French Antartic and home for part of the year to groups of French scientists doing research on the climate and so on.
Edouard's page
If you follow the links, you'll come to Edouard's page, giving an account of his travels to the French Antartic - but also his travels from Moscow to Hong Kong by train! It's a great site with some super photos.
And the albatross?
Nearly forgot him. He lives on Amsterdam Island. You'll find him on this page - Albatros of Amsterdam - so named by the website owner who photographed him.
1 comment:
This is a fascinating entry and I'm devastated that no-one has commented on it! :)
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