Nightingale Islands Map

Description: This map shows islands, trails, caves, peaks, lakes on Nightingale Islands.

Other Maps of Nightingale Islands

Nightingale Islands are a group of three islands located in the South Atlantic Ocean, forming part of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, which is a British Overseas Territory. The group consists of Nightingale Island (the main island), Middle Island, and Stoltenhoff Island. These remote islands are situated approximately 38 kilometers (24 miles) southwest of Tristan da Cunha, the main inhabited island of the archipelago.

Nightingale Island, the largest of the three, covers an area of approximately 3.2 square kilometers (1.2 square miles). The island reaches a maximum elevation of 370 meters (1,214 feet) above sea level at its highest point. The topography is characterized by rugged terrain, with steep cliffs surrounding much of the coastline. Middle Island lies just 100 meters north of Nightingale Island, while Stoltenhoff Island is located about 300 meters further north.

The islands are of volcanic origin, formed as part of the same volcanic system that created the other islands in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Despite their small size, the Nightingale Islands are internationally recognized for their ecological significance. They have been designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International due to their role as crucial breeding grounds for several seabird species.

The Nightingale Islands host significant populations of seabirds, including the endangered Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi), with approximately 25,000 breeding pairs found on the islands. Other notable bird species include the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, Sooty Albatross, Atlantic Petrel, Great Shearwater, and Broad-billed Prion. The islands also support two endemic bird species: the Wilkins' Bunting and the Nightingale Island Finch, both of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Human presence on the islands is minimal. There are no permanent residents, though fishermen from Tristan da Cunha occasionally visit the islands to harvest seabirds and their eggs as part of traditional subsistence practices. Scientific research expeditions also visit periodically to study the unique ecosystem.

In March 2011, the Nightingale Islands ecosystem faced a significant threat when the cargo ship MS Oliva ran aground on Nightingale Island, spilling oil and releasing rats onto the island. This environmental disaster posed a serious risk to the island's bird populations, particularly the endangered rockhopper penguins. Subsequent conservation efforts have focused on mitigating the impact of this incident and preserving the islands' biodiversity.

List of Islands