What is this thing on an uninhabitated island?

[OutOfTheCube]

Today I was reading about 'Inaccessible Island', an extremely remote uninhabited island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. The only close human settlement is on another island 40 km away, which it itself the most remote human settlement on the planet, a seven day boat trip from South Africa.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaccessible_Island

I am a bit bored at work and took to Google Maps to just take a peek at it for fun. Mostly uninteresting but then I noticed something. WTF is this unnatural looking structure / item?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UPaQSkX8zfup6fDc6

It's fairly large, Google Maps estimates at 26' x 17' or so. And it couldn't be something that's blown in off the shore, it's sheer cliffs on all sides. There's been very few explorations there and not really anything in the last 80 years, anything from then would've deteroritated or grown over. So what is this?

[FlamesAddiction]

Just a couple of wild guesses, but maybe a lighthouse or weather station?

Perhaps just some kind of research station or token structure to show that the island is claimed by someone?

[photon]

Reddit thinks it's a small shelter for when people visit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/googlemapss..._inaccessible/

[Ashasx]

At least via google earth, it really doesn't look like sheer cliffs on all sides

https://earth.google.com/web/search/..._________8BEAA

[Ped]

Looks like a hut. The wikipedia article says:

In a 1982 expedition (16 October 1982 – 10 February 1983), students and faculty of Denstone College in England made detailed maps of the island, studied its flora, fauna, and geology, and carried out a bird ringing programme on more than 3,000 birds.[13] In 1997, Inaccessible Island's territorial waters out to 22 km (14 mi) were declared a nature reserve under the Tristan da Cunha Conservation Ordinance of 1976. Currently, only guides from Tristan are allowed to take visiting cruise ships to Inaccessible; most trips to the island are now made at the request of expatriates.

So, people can still go there under strict conditions.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Ped

Looks like a hut. The wikipedia article says:



So, people can still go there under strict conditions.

So its Inaccessible but people visit it? Gotcha.

[OutOfTheCube]

I did some further research and found it

This area has since always been called 'Blenden Hall' and was the site for the hut built by the 1982/3 Denstone College Expedition to Inaccessible . This photograph taken in December 1982 shows the Denstone Expedition departing for a Tristan Christmas break. There is still only one hut on the island (2019).

https://www.tristandc.com/inaccessible.php

Well that was a fun journey.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by greyshep

So its Inaccessible but people visit it? Gotcha.

From wiki

There are two explanations for the name "Inaccessible" Island. One is that on maps the newly found island was referred to as "inaccessible" because the Dutch crew who landed were not able to reach its interior.[8] The other claims that French captain d'Etcheverry renamed the island in 1778 after not being able to land.

[Ashasx]

more mysteries please

[Jason14h]

Squid Games ?

[WideReceiver]

There’s an island in the Pacific where when the ISS flies over the closest humans are astronauts. I imagine it’s the same with this one. Fascinating stuff; I listened to a podcast on these things. There are also many islands that are so dangerous that visitors are banned—venomous snakes, hostile natives and especially vulnerable natives, citing three actual examples. I love these oddities.

[Geraldsh]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

There’s an island in the Pacific where when the ISS flies over the closest humans are astronauts. I imagine it’s the same with this one. Fascinating stuff; I listened to a podcast on these things. There are also many islands that are so dangerous that visitors are banned—venomous snakes, hostile natives and especially vulnerable natives, citing three actual examples. I love these oddities.

Of the three I would visit the vulnerable natives, maybe sell them some iPhones.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

There’s an island in the Pacific where when the ISS flies over the closest humans are astronauts. I imagine it’s the same with this one. Fascinating stuff; I listened to a podcast on these things. There are also many islands that are so dangerous that visitors are banned—venomous snakes, hostile natives and especially vulnerable natives, citing three actual examples. I love these oddities.

Where can one listen to these? They sound interesting.

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

Of the three I would visit the vulnerable natives, maybe sell them some iPhones.

I would become their King! The Spanish Conquistadores ain't got nuthin on me!

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

Of the three I would visit the vulnerable natives, maybe sell them some iPhones.

You might want to reconsider
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_...ostile_contact

[blankall]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

There’s an island in the Pacific where when the ISS flies over the closest humans are astronauts. I imagine it’s the same with this one. Fascinating stuff; I listened to a podcast on these things. There are also many islands that are so dangerous that visitors are banned—venomous snakes, hostile natives and especially vulnerable natives, citing three actual examples. I love these oddities.

I'm pretty fascinated by the dilemma of what to do with uncontacted tribes. There are a surprisingly large amount of them, given the modern world we live in.

On the one hand, I see definitely see the value in letting them live their ways without forcing them into modernity. However, what do you do if there's a massive disease or famine set to wipe them out? Modern medicine would be valuable for them.

The photos from the Amazon were pretty fascinating (although I obviously see the risk in even taking photos).

The stories about the Sentinelese, who are actively hostile to outsiders, are also pretty fascinating. There have been multiple attempted landings on their island, including an idiotic missionary, who persisted with his visits until he was killed.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by Locke

Where can one listen to these? They sound interesting.

I follow a whole bunch of podcasts. They showed up in a couple of my regulars.

In your podcast app search for Sentinel Island, and some general terms like undiscovered peoples, most remote islands, etc. and many shows will pop up.

This is one of my favourite podcasts and an episode of interest. https://everything-everywhere.com/tr...an-settlement/

Literally, some googling and searching in a podcast app will generate hours of listening. Enjoy.

I found one on a remote Pacific island with several dozen inhabitants where sex crimes were rampant. I can’t recall the name. The Brits had to come in to clean it up. If I find it I’ll let you know.

[Tkachukwagon]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

I found one on a remote Pacific island with several dozen inhabitants where sex crimes were rampant. I can’t recall the name. The Brits had to come in to clean it up. If I find it I’ll let you know

Pitcairn Island. Look up the mutiny of the HMS Bounty, super interesting story which essentially formed the settlement on Pitcairn. All the inhabitants are essentially descendants of the mutineers.

[WideReceiver]

Yes, Pitcairn Island. Locke could search for that one. Needs a strong stomach however as it involves rapes of minors. Sorry I don’t know how to put it politely. Don’t listen if you can’t stomach it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

Yes, Pitcairn Island. Locke could search for that one. Needs a strong stomach however as it involves rapes of minors. Sorry I don’t know how to put it politely. Don’t listen if you can’t stomach it.

I'm actually very familiar with Pitcairn Island, my wife and I Honeymooned on Tahiti and they had lectures you could attend that tells everything about the whole story.

And it. Is. Grim.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I did some further research and found it





https://www.tristandc.com/inaccessible.php

Well that was a fun journey.

This is where I landed, what I came here to post. fun read