Pitcairn Island is situated at lat. 25° 3' S. and long. 130° 8' W in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean.

It is 3,000 miles from the nearest continent, about midway between Australia and South America and one of the remotest locations on earth.

It covers an area of 5 sq km (2 sq mi) and is the main island of a group of islands forming a dependency of the United Kingdom. This group also includes the uninhabited Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno islands and has a total area of 36 sq km (14 sq mi).

Pitcairn Island is of volcanic origin and is characterized by steep basaltic cliffs that rise abruptly from the sea. The island has fertile soil but no streams. Oranges, bananas, pineapples and other crops are grown in the subtropical climate.

Adamstown, the only village on the island, is on the northern coast, near Bounty Bay.

In 1991 population was estimated to be just 61 persons.

It has been said that it is easier to get someone back from the frozen wastes of the Arctic than to evacuate Pitcairn in an emergency!