Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 1. Physical Setting of the Islands
Draft 1 March 2007
Stoddar and Fosberg (1994) described the channels from the lagoon to the sea, called by their
Poloynesian name, hoa, in coral atolls such as Orona (Hull). Orona (Hull) hoa were confined
to the northern rim of the atoll. The origin Orona (Hull) hoa was attributed to overtopping
storm water associated with hurricanes.
Reef Shelf - Orona (Hull) is a coral atoll with a 91 m (100 yard) wide fringing reef which
dries in patches (Hydrographic Office 1940; 73 to 229 m (80 to 250 yards) wide according to
Bryan 1941 and 1942).
Soil - In 1995, Government of Kiribati (1995) noted guano on Orona. Knudsen (1965)
reported that the soil on Orona (Hull) was better than Abariringa (Canton), but poorer than on
Nikumaroro (Gardner). Maude (1937) reported that the soil was light and sandy (see also
Garnett 1983a).
The soil on Orona was reasonably developed (Neilson 2002). Orona’s foreshore and substata
had high amounts of pyroclastic ash and pumice. This added to the soil that was dominated
by alkaline carbonaceous materials.
RAWAKI (PHOENIX)
Diminsions - Rawaki (Phoenix) was a little less than 1.2 km (¾ mile) long and less than 0.8
km (½ mile) wide (Bryan 1941 and 1942).
The highest elevation on Rawaki (Phoenix) was about 4.9 m (16 ft) (Hydrographic Office
1940; 5.5 m (18 ft) according to Bryan 1941 and 1942).
A satellite image of Rawaki is provided in Figure III-1.10 below.
A.
Figure III-1.10. Rawaki:
A - Satellite image (source: http://oceandots.com/pacific/rawaki/rawaki.htm);
B – Chart (source: U.S. Government Chart of 1943)
B.
Lagoon - Bryan (1934) reported that in the middle of Rawaki (Phoenix) there was a puddle of
a lagoon that may dry at times (see also Hydrographic Office 1916). In 1924, the lagoon was
brackish and only a few cm (inches) deep. Maude (1937) reported that the lagoon was very
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