ASCENSION, a small island in the South Atlantic, loom. N.W. of St. Helena. Area, 34 sq. miles. The island lies within the influence of the south-east trades (8° south lat.). The lee side is subject to "rollers," which break on the shore with great violence. The island is of volcanic origin. Green mountain, a huge elliptical crater, is 2,82oft. above the sea, while the surrounding table lands vary from 1,200 to 2,000 feet. Steep ravines, lined with masses of lava and ending in small bays, are typical. Ascension was originally bare, save for the summit of Green mountain, but the lower hills have been planted with grasses and shrubs. The cli mate is remarkably healthy. The average rainfall is about 2oin., March and April being the rainy months. The island is the resort of the sea turtle, who come in thousands to lay their eggs on the shores between Jan. and May. The turtles are caught and kept in large ponds. The coasts abound with a variety of fish of excellent quality. Like St. Helena, the island does not possess any indigenous vertebrate land fauna. Rabbits, wild goats and partridges are fairly common. The "wideawake" birds (sooty tern) frequent the island in vast numbers to lay their eggs. The flora includes purslane, rock roses, ferns and mosses.
The island was discovered by the Portuguese Joao da Nova, on Ascension Day, i 5o i . In 1 7 o I William Dampier was wrecked on its coast. It remained uninhabited till after the arrival of Napoleon at St. Helena (1815), when it was garrisoned by the British government. A settlement named George Town (locally known as Garrison) was made on the north-west coast, water being obtained from "Dampier's springs" in the Green moun tain, 6m. distant. The island was under the rule of the Admi ralty till 1922, when it was transferred to the administration of the Colonial Office and annexed to St. Helena. There are cable con nections with Europe and Africa, and the island is in the postal union. The population 0930, 188, consists of seamen, marines, and Krumen from Liberia. Phosphates and guano are collected, and about ioac. under cultivation produce vegetables and fruit. It was at Ascension that Mr. (afterwards Sir) David Gill de termined, in 1877, the solar parallax.
See C. Darwin, Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. "Beagle" (1844) ; Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of the "Challenger" vol. i. part 2 (1885) ; Africa Pilot, part ii. 5th ed. (190 i) .