Knox Atoll

Knox Atoll

NASA picture of Knox Atoll
Knox Atoll (Marshall islands)
Geography
Location	North Pacific
Coordinates	05°54′00″N 172°09′00″E / 5.9°N 172.15°E / 5.9; 172.15
Archipelago	Ratak
Total islands	18
Area	0.98 km2 (0.378 sq mi)
Highest elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Country
Marshall Islands
Demographics
Population	0

Knox Atoll (Marshallese: Ņadikdik, /nˠaɦˠrʲɨkrʲɨk/ or [n̴ɑʕr̟i͡ɯɡɯ͡ir̟i͡ɯk]^[1]) is an unihabited coral atoll of 18 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and is the southernmost atoll of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The total land area is only 0.98 square kilometres (0.38 sq mi), but it encloses a largely sand-filled lagoon with an area of 3.42 square kilometres (1.32 sq mi). The atoll measures 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) in length and is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide. The largest islets, located on the western and northern sides, include Aelingeo, Nadikdik and Nariktal. The atoll is connected by the Klee Passage to the southern point of Mili Atoll to which it was once connected.

History

Knox Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884. After World War I, the island came under the South Pacific Mandate of the Empire of Japan. Following the end of World War II, it came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986.

Notes

1. ^ Marshallese-English Dictionary - Place Name Index

Reference

• Marshall Islands site
• Oceandots entry for Knox Atoll