Canton Island

Canton Island is in the South Pacific Ocean.

It is part of a land called Kiribati. The island is a ring of land around a blue lagoon.

Many kinds of fish live in the water. You can find sharks and eels there. Most of the land is bare coral. Only a few small plants grow there. A small village is on the island.

It is a quiet place in the sea.

Canton Island is in the South Pacific Ocean.

It is part of a country called Kiribati. The island is an atoll. An atoll is a ring of land around a lagoon.

The island looks like a large pork chop. Much of the land is bare coral. You might see small herbs or bunch grass. Some coconut palms and trees grow near the village.

The lagoon is full of life. There are 153 kinds of fish. You can find sharks, eels, and stingrays there.

Long ago, the island was a place for ships to stop. It was a stop for many airplanes too. During World War II, the U.S. Navy built an airstrip.

People lived there to help the planes. They had a hotel, a school, and a power station. Today, the island is very quiet. Only about 20 people live there now. Most of the area is a protected park. This helps keep the coral and fish safe.

Canton Island is a special place in the South Pacific Ocean.

It is the largest and northernmost island in the Phoenix Islands. This group of islands is part of the Republic of Kiribati. The island is an atoll, which is a ring of land around a lagoon. It sits roughly halfway between Hawaii and Fiji. Its closest neighbor is the uninhabited Enderbury Island to the west-southwest.

The island is shaped like a large pork chop. It has a narrow rim of land and a wide lagoon inside.

The island's environment is quite unique. Much of the land is made of bare coral. You might see low herbs or bunch grass growing there. Some trees and coconut palms grow near the village of Tebaronga.

There is no fresh water on the island from the ground. People must catch rainwater in large tanks called cisterns. The lagoon is a busy place for sea life. It holds 153 different kinds of fish. You can find sharks, eels, and stingrays swimming in the water.

Many types of coral, like staghorn coral, grow in the sea.

History tells us many different names for this island. In 1824, a ship called the Mary visited the area. People thought the island was named for a woman named Mary Boulcott. Later, the name Canton came from a ship called the Canton. This ship wrecked on the shore in March 1854.

The crew of that ship had a hard journey. They spent 49 days in small boats to reach safety in Guam. These early sailors helped map the area for others to find.

For a long time, different countries wanted to lead the island. The United Kingdom and the United States eventually agreed to share it. This was called a condominium, which means they ruled it together.

During World War II, the island became a very important stop. The United States Navy built an airstrip at the northwest corner.

This helped planes travel between places like Australia and New Zealand. It was a busy hub for many years.

Today, life on Canton Island is very different. It is much quieter than it was in the past. In the year 2000, there were 61 people living there. Now, the population has dropped to only about 20 people.

Much of the area is now part of a huge protected park. This park helps keep the coral and the fish safe. The island is a place where nature is being carefully watched and cared for.

Canton Island, also known as Kanton or Abariringa, is a unique atoll in the South Pacific Ocean.

It serves as the largest and northernmost island in the Phoenix Islands. This group of islands is part of the Republic of Kiribati. As an atoll, the island consists of a narrow ribbon of land surrounding a central lagoon. The island sits roughly halfway between Hawaii and Fiji. Its closest neighbor is the uninhabited Enderbury Island, located to the west-southwest.

The island's shape is often described as looking like a large pork chop.

The geography of the atoll is defined by its coral structures. The land rim varies in width and elevation across the island. One specific area in the southeast corner is called Pyramid Point. The lagoon is accessible through two entrances on the west side. The main channel features strong currents of up to 2.5 knots. Inside the lagoon, four north-south reef ledges reduce water flow. These ledges help suppress coral growth in certain areas. However, the coral gardens near the entrance are very extensive.

These gardens include Acropora tables and staghorn corals growing over sandy bottoms.

The marine environment is incredibly diverse and highly developed. The lagoon holds 153 different species of fish. These include sharks, stingrays, eels, and tuna. Many different coral species thrive here, such as Montipora efflorescens and Pavona varians. In some areas, the live coral cover is very high. Some small patch reefs have a live coral cover approaching 100%. This makes the coral communities on Kanton more developed than on other islands in the Phoenix Group. The ecosystem relies on these complex reef structures to support its many inhabitants.

History shows that the island has had many different names. In 1824, the whaler Mary visited the island. It was originally named Mary Balcoutts Island, likely after a woman named Mary Boulcott.

This spelling was often incorrect on old charts and books. The modern name, Canton, comes from the New Bedford whaler Canton. This ship wrecked on the outer shore in March 1854. Captain Andrew Johnson Wing and his crew survived the wreck. They spent 49 days in four open boats to reach Guam. This was a distance of 2,900 nautical miles.

In the 20th century, the island became a site of political competition. The United Kingdom and the United States both claimed the island. In 1937, American and New Zealand scientists visited to observe a total solar eclipse. This event led to competing claims of sovereignty. Eventually, the two nations agreed to a condominium. This meant they would rule the island jointly for fifty years. During this time, they operated together to manage island facilities. They even ran a single building that housed both British and American post offices.

Canton Island became a vital "airplane oasis" during the mid-1900s. Pan American World Airways began using the island in 1939. They built facilities to support flying boat services to New Zealand.

During World War II, the United States Navy built an airstrip at the northwest corner. This made the island a key stopover for flights to Australia and New Zealand. The island was also a staging point for attacks on the Gilbert Islands. Despite being shelled by Japanese submarines, the island remained a functional hub. A full community was built to support these airline operations. This included a hotel, a school, and an electrical power station.

Today, the island is much quieter and focuses on conservation. The population has decreased significantly over recent decades. In 2000, there were 61 residents, but by 2021, only 20 people remained.

Most of the land is bare coral covered by low herbs and bunch grass. The village of Tebaronga is the only settlement. Much of the surrounding area is now part of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. This marine reserve includes eight coral atolls. Over 50% of the island and lagoon are now in a protected conservation zone. This helps ensure the survival of the island's unique natural resources.