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|+ Pitcairn Islands |- |style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan=2| |- |align="center" colspan=2 style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;"|''National Motto : Unknown'' |- | Official Languages || English and Pitkern |- | Capital || Adamstown |- | Governor || Richard Fell |- | Mayor || Jay Warren (elected on December 15 2004) |- | Area - Total - % water|| 5 Km&2 Negligible |- | Population - Total ( 2005 ) - Density || 46 9/km&2 |- |Dependent area of|| United Kingdom |- | Currency || New Zealand Dollar |- | Time Zone || UTC -8 |- | National Anthem || Pitcairn Anthem |- | Internet TLD || .pn |} The Pitcairn Islands (''Pitkern'' : '''Pitkern Ailen''') are a group of four islands, of which only '''Pitcairn Island''' — the second largest — is inhabited, in the southern Pacific Ocean , the only remaining British colony in the Pacific. The islands are best known for being the home of the descendants of the ''Bounty'' Mutineers and the Tahiti ans who accompanied them, an event retold in numerous books and films. This story is still apparent in the surnames of many of the islanders. With only about fifty inhabitants (from nine families), Pitcairn is also famed for being the least populated country in the world (although it is not a Sovereign Nation ). The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes the Pitcairn Islands on the United Nations List Of Non-Self-Governing Territories . History See Also: History of the Pitcairn Islands The original settlers of the Pitcairn Islands were Polynesia ns who appear to have lived on Pitcairn and Henderson for several centuries. However, although archaeologists believe that Polynesians were living on Pitcairn as late as the 15th Century , the islands were uninhabited when Pitcairn was discovered by Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes De Queirós in 1606 . It was rediscovered by the British on July 3 , 1767 , and named after Midshipman Robert Pitcairn , a fifteen-year old crewmember who was traveling on a voyage commanded by Captain Philip Carteret . Pitcairn was the son of British Revolutionary War Marine Officer John Pitcairn , who was second in command of British forces stationed in Massachusetts during the American Revolutionary War . Captain Pitcairn was fatally wounded in one of the most defining battles of the war, the Battle Of Bunker Hill on June 17 , 1775 . In 1790 , the mutineers of HMAV ''Bounty'' and their Tahiti an companions, some of whom may have been kidnapped from Tahiti, settled on the island and set fire to the ''Bounty''. The wreck is still visible underwater in Bounty Bay. Although the settlers were able to survive by farming and fishing, the initial period of settlement was marked by serious tensions among the settlers. Alcoholism, murder, disease and other ills took the lives of most mutineers and Tahitian men. John Adams and Ned Young turned to the Scriptures using the ship's Bible as their guide for a new and peaceful society. The Pitcairners converted to Christianity . (The Pitcairners would later convert to Adventism after a successful Adventist mission in the 1890s.) When the British found Pitcairn again in 1814, they were impressed with the emerging society and the example of leadership given by Adams. Because of this, it was decided not to arrest him for mutiny. The island became a British colony in 1838 . By the mid 1850s the Pitcairn community was outgrowing the island and its leaders appealed to the British government for assistance. They were offered Norfolk Island and on 3 May , 1856 , the entire community of 193 people set sail for Norfolk on board the ''Morayshire'', arriving on 8 June after a miserable five-week trip. But after eighteen months on Norfolk, seventeen of the Pitcairners returned to their home island; five years later another twenty-seven did the same. Since a population peak of 233 in 1937 , the island has been suffering from emigration, primarily to New Zealand , leaving some fifty people living on Pitcairn. There are allegations of a long history and tradition of Sexual Abuse of girls as young as 7, which culminated in 2004 in the charging of seven men living on Pitcairn, and another six now living abroad, with sex-related offences, including Rape . On October 25 2004 , six men were convicted, including Steve Christian , the island's Mayor . ''See Pitcairn Rape Trial Of 2004 ''. Politics See Also: Politics of the Pitcairn Islands The Governor of the Pitcairn Islands is the British High Commissioner to New Zealand , currently Richard Fell . Because the high commissioner does not live on the island, its daily affairs were traditionally taken care of by the Magistrate , chairman of the Island Council . Elections for this position take place every three years. After a constitutional revision in 1998 , these functions were transferred to the Mayor Of Pitcairn from 1999 onwards. Island Magistrate is a governor appointed job. Chairman of the Internal Committee is an elected official. Until 30 October 2004 , the mayor was Steve Christian ; after his Rape Conviction on October 24 2004 , Christian was dismissed (after refusing to resign). Brenda Christian was selected by the Island Council, to be mayor for November and December 2004, until an election was held. Jay Warren was elected on December 15 2004 . Geography '']] ''Main article: Geography Of The Pitcairn Islands '' The Pitcairn Islands form the southeasternmost extension of the , Oeno Island , Henderson Island and Ducie Island : Pitcairn Islands as a group of islands ()
Pitcairn is a volcanic island, and Ducie and Oeno are Coral Atoll s. Sandy Island is a mere Sandbar , part of the same Atoll as Oeno , so it is not counted as part of the Pitcairn Island group. Henderson Island is an Uplifted coral island. The only permanently inhabited island, Pitcairn, has an area of 5 km&2 and a population density of 10/km&2; it is accessible only by boat through Bounty Bay . Henderson Island , covering about 67% of the territory's total land area, and supporting a rich variety of animals in its nearly inaccessible interior, is also capable of supporting a small human population, but it is hard to get there and back, its outer shores being comprised of uniformly steep limestone cliffs of sharp coral. The other islands are at a distance of more than 100 km and are not habitable. Economy See Also: Economy of the Pitcairn Islands The fertile soil of the Pitcairn valleys produces a wide variety of Fruit s and Vegetable s, including Citrus , Sugarcane , Watermelon s, Banana s, Yams , and Bean s. The inhabitants of this tiny economy exist on Fish ing, subsistence Farming , and Handicraft s, with barter an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of Postage Stamp s to collectors, Honey , and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships, most of which are plying the United Kingdom to New Zealand route via the Panama Canal . Trade is restricted by the jagged geography of the island, which lacks a harbour or airstrip, forcing all trade to be made by longboat to visiting ships. Occasionally, passengers from expedition-type cruise ships will come ashore for a day, weather permitting. The island has a labour force of 12 men and an unknown number of women (as of 1997). Demographics See Also: Demographics of the Pitcairn Islands Many of the resident Pitcairn Islanders are descendants of the ''Bounty'' Mutineers , as their surnames show. Most Pitcairners are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church . Pitkern is a Creole Language derived from 18th Century English , with elements of the Tahitian Language . It is spoken as a first language by the population and is taught alongside standard English at the island's only school. It is closely related to the creole language Norfuk spoken on Norfolk Island , because Norfolk was repopulated in the mid 19th Century by Pitcairners. In September 2003, the first baby was born on the islands in 17 years. In June 2004, Shirley and Simon Young became the first married, outsider couple, in recorded history, to gain residency on the island. Culture Pitcairn culture, like its language, is a mix of English and Tahitian influences. A successful Adventist mission in the is observed as a day of rest and as a mark of respect for observant Adventists. The once-strict moral codes, which prohibited dancing, public shows of affection, and consumption of alcohol, have been relaxed in recent years. Islanders may now obtain a six-month license to purchase alcohol; the licence fee is NZ$10.00 for residents and NZ$25.00 for tourists. Communications
Transportation The settlers of the Pitcairns all arrived by some form of Boat or Ship ; the most famous was the '' HMAV Bounty '', on which the mutiny occurred and which was burned in Bounty Bay. Pitcairn Island does not have an Airport or Seaport ; the islanders rely on Longboat s to Ferry people and goods between Ship and shore through Bounty Bay. To get to Pitcairn it is necessary to fly to Tahiti , then Mangareva , then embark on a further 30-hour boat ride. There is one boat every several months. Alternately, passage can be obtained aboard a few freighters out of New Zealand - it is a seven-day trip via freighter. Leaving the island is hit-and-miss; you leave when transportation happens by, not necessarily when you want to go. There is one paved Road and no Railway s. There is 6.4 km of road. On land, Walking has historically been the way of getting around; All-terrain Vehicle s have become common in more recent years. External links
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