Kwajalein

Kwajalein Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in the Ralik Chain, 2,100 nautical miles (3900 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, at {{coor dm |8|43|N|167|44|E|}}. Kwajalein is one the world's largest coral atolls (not by land area, which is comparatively small, but by total area including the lagoon), comprising 97 islets with an aggregate land area of 6.33 km², and surrounds one of the largest lagoons in the world, measuring 839.30 km² in size.

Related Topics:
Marshall Islands - Ralik Chain - Honolulu, Hawaii - Coral - Atoll - Lagoon

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Since 1944, when the U.S. captured the atoll from the Japanese in the Battle of Kwajalein, it has been used for military purposes, while escaping the tragic fate of nearby Bikini Atoll. Eleven of the 97 islands comprising Kwajalein Atoll are now leased by the United States from the RMI government to accommodate the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, or RTS (formerly known as Kwajalein Missile Range, KMR). RTS includes radar installations, optics, telemetry, and communications equipment which are used for ballistic missile and missile interceptor testing and space operations support.

Related Topics:
1944 - U.S. - Japan - Battle of Kwajalein - Bikini Atoll - Ronald Reagan

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Kwajalein Island is the southernmost, and the largest, of the islands in the Kwajalein atoll. The northernmost, and second largest, island is Roi-Namur. These are the two main islands used by the U.S. staff and their families are accommodated in trailers or hard housing. Unaccompanied personnel live in apartment style housing. The population of Kwajalein island is approximately 2,500, all of whom are U.S. staff. The primary mode of personal transportation is the bicycle and housing is free for all personnel.

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The military history of Kwajalein has made tourism almost non-existent and has kept the environment in pristine condition. Kwajalein lagoon offers excellent wreck diving of mostly Japanese ships, a few planes and a very large German heavy cruiser, the Prinz Eugen. Spear fishing and deep sea fishing are also exceptional. 80 degree water temperature and 100 foot visibility are common when scuba diving on the ocean side of the atoll.

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A neighboring island Ebeye has the largest population in the atoll, with approximately 12,000 native residents living on 80 acres (320,000 m²) of land. Ebeye is one of the most densely populated places in the world.

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Roi-Namur used to be 3 separate islands: Roi, Namur and Enidrikdrik. After WWII, while the US had control of the atoll, they mostly paved over Enidrikdrik and renamed the resulting island Roi-Namur.

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Since 1961 several tests of anti-ballistic missiles were performed on Kwajalein. Therefore there are launchpads on Illeginni Island ( {{coor d |9.0000|N|167.7000|E|}}), Roi-Namur Island ( {{coor d |9.4012|N|167.4663|E|}}) and Kwajalein Drop Zone, Pacific Ocean ( {{coor d |7.6500|N|167.7000|E|}}).

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