Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 1. Physical Setting of the Islands
Draft 1 March 2007
Henderson et al (1978) provided detailed background information on the characteristics of
each of the lagoon entrances and the history of dredging of Abariringa’s (Canton’s) lagoon
entrance.
Stoddar and Fosberg (1994) described the channels from the lagoon to the sea, called by their
Poloynesian name, hoa. They reported that Abariringa (Canton) and Nikumaroro (Gardner)
had no hoa. Abariringa (Canton) had paleohoa (ancient hoa).
In the lagoon entrance, tidal current can run over 11.1 km per hour (6 knots) (Hydrographic
Office 1940; 7.4 to 11.1 km per hour (4 to 6 knots) according to Hydrographic Office 1916;
11.1 to 14.8 km per hour (6 to 8 knots) according to McIntire 1960; Degener and Gillaspy
1955). The Hydrographer of the Navy (1969) reported that tidal current was up to 14.8 km
per hour (8 knots).
Reef Shelf - The reef shelf extended about 183 to 366 m (200 to 400 yards) from the shore
line (Hydrographic Office 1940; 91 to 732 m (100 to 800 yards) according to Bunker 1951).
Depth outside of the reef dropped off from 183 m (100 fathoms) to more than 549 m (300
fathoms) within a few hundred meters (yards).
Soil - Maude (1937) reported that the soil on Abariringa (Canton) was brownish sand, with
the exception of the middle portion of the south coast where soil was much lighter. Soil was
not as rich as that on Nikumaroro (Gardner), but richer than that on Orona (Hull), and
superior to any in the Gilbert Islands.
Degener and Gillaspy (1955) reported that there was primarily clay or silt along the lagoon.
Foraminifera shells of Baculogypsina sp., Spaerulata lessoni and Heterostegina sp. were
common along the beach among the coral fragments, shells and rubble (see also Garnett
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