Also known as the
Christmas Island, Kiritimati Island is a
Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands. A part of the
Republic of Kiribati, Kiritimati Island has the largest 642 square kilometers (248 sq mi)of
Coral Atoll area which is the largest in the world. It actually comprises of 70% of the total land area of
Kiribati. With a perimeter of about 150 km there are parts of its lagoons which have dried out. Besides the main Island there are some smaller Islands in
Kiritimati like the
Cook Island which has a size of 19h,
Motu Upua 19 ha,
Ngaontetaake 27 ha, and
Motu Tabu 3.5 ha.
The
Island of Kiritimati was an European discovery. In the year 1777
Captain James Cook first stepped on the shores of the Island of
Kiritimati. Gilbertese spell Christmas as
Kiritimati and therefore the name Christmas Island was given to the region. The Island of
Kiritimati comprises of
five villages and towns, these include:
- Tabwakea
- Banana
- Poland
- London
- Paris
The
Kiritinmati Island has a good communication system.
Cassidy International Airport is located just North of Banana,
Kiritimati. This is the only International Airport of the region that serves America. There is an inactive
Aeon Airfield located on the South East point of the
Kiritimati Island.
The
Kiritimati Island is visited by tourists from all over the world and has a number of Hotels and Lodges. The
Kiritimati Island is valued as a nuclear testing location and also for its beautiful marine and wild life treasures.
