History is St Helena's claim to fame

A street in the centre of Jamestown, the capital of the South Atlantic island of St Helena. Photo: AFP

Saint Helena's major claim to fame is as the place where the fallen French emperor Napoleon died in exile, but now the destiny of the tiny island is about to change with the opening of its first airport next year.

Framed by craggy volcanic cliffs soaring 800m above sea level, the South Atlantic island measures just 122sqkm – smaller than central Paris.