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Two British attempts at establishing the
island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned.
In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the
Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Oceania, island in the South Pacific
Ocean, east of Australia 29 02 S, 167 57 E total: 34.6
sq km 32 km territorial sea:
12 nm subtropical; mild, little seasonal
temperature variation volcanic formation with mostly rolling
plains lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m fish typhoons (especially May to July)
most of the 32-km coastline consists of
almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small
southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated
1,841 (July 2004 est.) descendants of the Bounty mutineers,
Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians Anglican 37.4%, Uniting Church in
Australia 14.5%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, none
12.2%, unknown 17.4%, other 3.9% (1996) English (official), Norfolk a mixture of
18th century English and ancient Tahitian territory of Australia; Canberra
administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the
Department of Environment, Sport, and Territories Kingston none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of
Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856) Norfolk Island Act of 1979 based on the laws of Australia, local
ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by
either Australian or Norfolk Island law Tourism, the primary economic activity,
has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity
unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector
has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
tourism NA, subsistence agriculture NA
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm
seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk
Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados Australia, other Pacific island countries,
NZ, Asia, Europe Australia, other Pacific island countries,
NZ, Asia, Europe Australian dollar (AUD) 2,532; note: a mix of analog (2500) and
digital (32) circuits (2004) 0 (proposed cellular service disallowed in
August 2002 island referendum) (2002) total: 80 km
none; loading jetties at Kingston and
Cascade none 1 (2003 est.) total: 1 |
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