In 1836, Ascension was visited by a man named Charles Darwin. Here the thin soils supported a handful of different fruits and vegetables. British marines planted this garden at an elevation of roughly 2000 feet. Thus, the Green Mountain garden was established. If the garrison was to persist, something had to be done. ![]() Of those 10 (2 grasses, 2 shrubs, and 6 ferns) were considered endemic. It is estimated that, until the island was settled, only about 25 to 30 plant species grew on the island. The native flora of Ascension was minimal. There were scant soils in which to grow vegetables and fresh water was nearly nonexistent. ![]() In doing so, the limitations of the island quickly became apparent. Because Napoleon had a penchant for being an escape artist, the British decided to build a garrison on the island in order to make sure Napoleon would not be rescued. In looking for an inescapable place to imprison Napoleon Bonaparte, the Royal Navy claimed Ascension in the name of King George III. It wasn't until 1815 that any permanent settlements were erected on Ascension. Early sailors saw it as little more than a stopover point to gather turtles and birds to eat as they sailed on to other regions. Its volcanic birth, young age, isolated conditions, and nearly non-existent soils meant that for most of its existence, Ascension Island was a depauperate place. Estimates suggest that volcanism was still shaping this island as little as 1000 years ago. It arose from the ocean floor a mere 1 million years ago and is the result of intense volcanic activity. However, my hope is that you can take away some lessons from this and, at the very least, use it as a jumping off point for future discussions.Īscension Island is, as land masses go, quite young. What follows is not a complete story far from it actually. The roots of this experiment stem back to a peculiar time in history and the results have so much to teach the human species about botany, climate, extinction, speciation, and much more. Situated about 2,200 km east of Brazil and 3,200 km west of Angola, this remote island is home to one of the most remarkable ecological experiments that is rarely talked about. This bleak volcanic island doesn't have much to offer the casual tourist but what it lacks in amenities it makes up for in a rich and bizarre history. Located in the middle of the South Atlantic, Ascension Island is probably not on the top of anyone's travel list.
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