Kiritimati Island
Kiritimati Island
Blog Article
Xmas Island or Kristmas, in overseas literature - Kiritimati (English Xmas Island, Kiribati) is definitely an atoll in the Line Archipelago, belongs to Kiribati.
Kiritimati Island, often known as Christmas Island, is a distant coral atoll located in the central Pacific Ocean. It is an element of your Republic of Kiribati which is notable for its size, biodiversity, and one of a kind heritage.
Essential Facts
Spot:
Positioned in the Line Islands, Kiritimati is two,160 kilometers (1,340 miles) south of Honolulu, Hawaii.
It lies just west with the International Date Line, making it one of many to start with areas in the world to greet The brand new day.
Dimensions:
It truly is the biggest coral atoll in the world by land region, covering roughly 388 square kilometers (a hundred and fifty sq. miles).
Its intensive lagoon procedure provides A different 500 sq. kilometers of drinking water.
Population:
Around 6,000 people, largely concentrated in villages like Tabwakea, Banana, and London.
Geography and Surroundings
Atoll Composition:
Kiritimati is a hoop-formed atoll with a considerable, shallow lagoon at its Heart along with a series of smaller lagoons and salt flats.
Biodiversity:
The island is household to various seabird colonies, such as species such as frigatebirds, terns, and boobies, which makes it a globally major bird sanctuary.
Marine everyday living is plentiful, with coral reefs supporting numerous fish species.
Climate:
The island encounters a tropical weather with minimal variation in temperature year-spherical.
Rainfall is sporadic, affected by El Niño and La Niña designs.
Cultural and Historical Significance
Discovery:
The island was named "Christmas Island" by Captain James Prepare dinner, who found it on Xmas Eve in 1777.
Environment War II:
Used as being a strategic area by Allied forces.
Nuclear Testing:
The island was a web page for British and American nuclear screening while in the nineteen fifties and 1960s, leaving historic scars but also inadvertently defending the island from overdevelopment.
Standard Practices:
People retain elements of Kiribati's conventional Micronesian lifestyle, including dance, fishing, and local crafts.
Tourism and Things to do
Birdwatching:
The island is actually a paradise for ornithologists on account of its numerous and numerous seabird species.
Fishing:
Kiritimati is a environment-course location for fly fishing, especially for bonefish and trevally.
Diving and Snorkeling:
The coral reefs offer you Remarkable opportunities to investigate maritime life.
Ecotourism:
Website visitors can explore the island’s lagoons, salt flats, and organic beauty inside of a very low-affect manner.
Worries
Increasing Sea Concentrations:
Being a minimal-lying atoll, Kiritimati faces substantial dangers from local climate adjust and mounting sea ranges.
Sustainability:
Constrained freshwater means and overfishing are ongoing issues to the community inhabitants.Kiritimati Island