Palmyra Atoll

Palmyra Atoll is an unorganized, incorporated territory of the United States, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the Northern Line Islands and is situated almost halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa. The atoll is often classified as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands.

Geography

File:Palmyra Atoll - NASA.jpg

Aerial view of Palmyra Atoll

The Palmyra Atoll is an archipelago that consists of an extensive reef, two shallow lagoons, and some 50 sand and reef-rock islets and bars covered with vegetation—Coconut palms, Scaevola, and tall Pisonia trees.

History

The first known Westerners to see the atoll were on the American ship Palmyra under Captain Sawle, who arrived on November 7, 1802. The atoll was claimed by the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1862 but was annexed by the United States in 1898.

Flora and Fauna

The Palmyra Atoll is home to a vast array of wildlife, including numerous species of fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. It is a nesting site for the endangered Green sea turtle and the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle.

Conservation

In 2000, the Nature Conservancy acquired the atoll and has been managing it for conservation, scientific study, and limited ecotourism.

See also

• List of Guano Island claims
• United States Minor Outlying Islands

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