St Helena - in pictures

Estimated to be up to 200 years old, this giant tortoise is one of several that roam the lawns of the late 18th-century Plantation House, seat of the governor of St Helena. Photograph: National Geographic

Sheltered in a valley at the foot of the cliffs, Jamestown is St Helena’s capital and only port. It was named after James, Duke of York – later to become King James II – in 1659. Photograph: Olaf Protze/Photolibrary

Rising almost vertically from Jamestown, Jacob’s Ladder was originally built to transport manure and weaponry to the top of Ladder Hill. Walkers who conquer its 699 steps are rewarded with spectacular views.
Photograph: Reuters

Mist looms above the rolling hills of St Helena, near Jamestown, as sunset reddens the island’s steep volcanic cliffs. Photograph: Kent Kobersteen/National Geographic

Today’s walkers have the freedom to enjoy the challenging ridges and distant horizon of Longwood Barn. It was a different story for Napoleon, who was exiled at nearby Longwood House. Photograph: PR

Fertile trees surround this old plantation in the mountains above Sandy Bay. Photograph: Jeffrey Barbee

Looming over Sandy Bay, and some freshwater ponds, is the stark formation of Lot’s Wife, recalling the biblical story of the disobedient woman turned to a pillar of salt.
Photograph: Walter Meayers Edwards/
National Geographic

The St Helena plover, known as the wirebird due to its thin legs, is the island’s only indigenous bird. When threatened, it may feign a broken wing to distract potential predators away from its chicks. Photograph: Ardea

It takes a satellite image to appreciate the full grandeur of this volcanic island, from the verdant interior to the deeply fissured rocks tumbling down to the Atlantic. Photograph: Nasa/Wikipedia

Once covering about a third of the island, the gumwood is the national tree of St Helena. A conservation project ensures the gumwoods are protected. Photograph: Ardea