Gough Island

[Scutter01]

I stumbled across this when fiddling with Google Earth and thought it was cool.

Gough Island (rhymes with cough; also known historically as Diego Alvarez) is a volcanic island rising from the South Atlantic Ocean to heights of over 2,950 feet (900 m) above sea level with an area of 35 square miles (91 km2). It is uninhabited except for the personnel of a weather station (usually 6 people) which the South African National Antarctic Programme has maintained continually on the island since 1956. It is one of the most remote places with a constant human presence.

SANAP - Gough Island Weather Station

The 6-10 member team lives on the island at the weather station. The boat comes once per year to replenish supplies and exchange personnel.

I wonder what that's like? I mean, they obviously have contact with the outside world, but to know that there are only half a dozen people within two thousand miles of you, and the boat won't be there for another year. Imagine living in New York and your closest neighbor is in Los Angeles!

 

[ATM]

I guess your outlook would depend on your current neighbors

 

[Bigum1969]

I guess your outlook would depend on your current neighbors

I agree. You better really, really, really get along with your neighbors. You also better hope you don't have a heart attack or some other emergency.

 

[Scutter01]

I agree. You better really, really, really get along with your neighbors. You also better hope you don't have a heart attack or some other emergency.

One or more of the team members is a medic and there are emergency services available (although they may take several days to arrive).

I would guess that there's enough room to get away from team members that are bugging you, but I suspect they have cohesion down pretty well before they get sent to the island.

 

[JcJ]

Thanks for posting that Scutter, interesting read..

Now I just need to figure out how I can take it over and be self sufficient..

 

[VUPDblue]

On a somewhat related note, I read recently that the arctic outpost that the US maintains is staffed by like 30 or so people, and among their annual supplies is about 2000 condoms.....

 

[rhino]

Sounds like the Swedish Bikini Team and I need to take a crash course in meteorology.

 

[Scutter01]

On a somewhat related note, I read recently that the arctic outpost that the US maintains is staffed by like 30 or so people, and among their annual supplies is about 2000 condoms.....

You know, it really wouldn't surprise me if they used them to protect small electronics from the weather. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if that was merely the "official" explanation, either.

 

[Bubbajms]

I remember that story, about the condom shipment. IIRC, there are only two or three women in that group..

 

[Scutter01]

I remember that story, about the condom shipment. IIRC, there are only two or three women in that group..

So it's a seller's market?

 

[Bubbajms]

Economics are funny little critters!! Man, I loved business classes

 

[Disposable Heart]

See, its places and things like this that Horror movies usually start....

All I need to know is Walter Brimley sitting in a shed, with a noose in the corner, telling the group that he wants to come back inside, he hears strange noises.

 

[rhino]

All I need to know is Walter Brimley sitting in a shed, with a noose in the corner, telling the group that he wants to come back inside, he hears strange noises.

Do you mean Wilford Brimley, much beloved old-man character actor since long before he was actually an old man?