Four small islands make up the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago: Tristan, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. With less than 500 people in permanent residence on the main island of Tristan, it is the world’s most remote area housing a permanent population; the African coast lies 2,400 kilometers to the northeast.
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Diomedea dabbenena - Gough Island serves as an important breeding ground for the Tristan albatross, a close relative of the wandering albatross; the Tristan albatross has darker plumage along its back and is slightly smaller. An albatross has a life span of almost fifty years and does not reach sexual maturity until after their fifth year. They nest in colonies, are monogamous, and produce only one egg in each biennial cycle. The chick requires almost one year of dedicated care from both parents before leaving the nest.
