PITCAIRN
A volcanic island in Oceania, in the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. This British territory also includes the uninhabited islands of Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno. Total area - 47 km². The administrative center is Adamstown (the only settlement on the island). Population - 46 people (2005), mainly Anglo-Polynesian mestizos. The official language is English. The currency is the New Zealand dollar.
Pitcairn is a British territory. It was explored by the English expedition of F. Carteret in 1767. It was named after the sailor who first spotted the island. It was settled in 1790 by English sailors from the mutinous ship "Bounty" and Polynesians brought from
Tahiti. Since 1898, it has been administered by the British High Commissioner in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, and since 1952, by the British Governor of Fiji. Since 1970, the British High Commissioner in New Zealand has also served as the island's governor. There is a local self-governing body - the Island Council (10 members), headed by a mayor (J. Warren, since 2004) and elected by the population for a term of 3 years.
The main occupation of the residents is agriculture (growing corn, taro, vegetables) and fishing. The main source of income is the export of postage stamps produced on the island. A monthly almanac is published. A radio station operates. The working-age population is 15 people.
