Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 1. Physical Setting of the Islands
Draft 1 March 2007
salty, but might become fresh after heavy rains. Hydrographic Office (1940) reported that
there was a dried up lagoon in the center. Hydrographer of the Navy (1969) reported that the
shallow lagoon was brackish and may sometimes dry. Anon. (1940) reported that there was a
large freshwater lake at the center of Rawaki (Phoenix). Bryan (1941 and 1942) reported a
very shallow salty lagoon that fluctuated greatly in size. Dahl (1980) report freshwater pools
on Rawaki (Phoenix).
Reef Shelf - Rawaki (Phoenix) was surrounded by a wide platform reef (Hydrographic Office
1940). The narrow reef was 27 to 91 m (30 to 100 yards) wide (Bryan 1941 and 1942).
On the western side there is a break through the reef (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969).
Bryan (1941 and 1942) reported that the small break was apparently blasted.
CARONDELET REEF
Carondelet reef was 1.2 km (¾ mile) north-northeast and south-southwest in the shape of a
horse shoe (Hydrographic Office 1916; about 732 m (800 yards) long (north-south) and 640
m (700 yards) wide (east-west) according to Hydrographic Office 1940). It did not bare at
any stage (Hydrographic Office 1940). The maximum depth was 3.7 m (2 fathoms). Depth
just off the reef was 9.1 to 18 m (5 to 10 fathoms).
According to Hydrographer of the Navy (1969), has a depth of less than 1.8 m. There was an
occasional wave break over it. This reef was confirmed by the H.M.S. Wellington in 1937. It
is about 0.8 km (0.5 mile) in a northerly and southerly direction in a horse-shoe shape
(concave westward).
WINSLOW REEF
Winslow reef extended about 1.6 km (1 mile) in a northwesterly and southeasterly direction
and was about 1.2 km (¾ mile) wide with two rocks awash (Hydrographic Office 1940; see
also Hydrographic Office 1916). Hydrographic Office (1916) noted that at that time, the
position was doubtful.
The exact location of Winslow reef was confirmed in 1944 (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969).
The depth was 11.0 m. It was 1.6 km (1 mile) long in an east to west direction, and 0.8 km
(0.5 miles) wide.
Apparently, there was a small area of breaking water about 4.8 km (3 miles) east of Winslow
reef that was reported in 1945 (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969).
B. OCEANOGRAPHIC
The Phoenix Islands were in the path of the westerly drift (Wiens 1962). Offshore currents
were generally westward. The strength of the currents varied with the wind. Usual speed
was 1.9 km per hour (1 knot), with a maximum of 3.7 km per hour (2 knots).
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