List of islets of Caroline Island

Caroline Island, a crescent-shaped atoll located some 1500 km (900 miles) south of the Hawaiian Islands in the central Pacific, consists of 39 small islets surrounding a shallow central lagoon. The islets, which only rise a few meters above sea level, share a common geologic origin and consist of sand deposits and limestone rock set atop a coral reef.

Three large islets — Nake, Long, and South Islets — make up the bulk of Caroline's land area. The remaining assembly of small islets, divided into four groupings, were surveyed during a 1988 ecological survey, conducted by Angela and Cameron Kepler; at that time, many of the thus-far-unnamed islets were given names of Polynesian derivation. Several of the smallest islets have been observed to appear or disappear entirely following major storms, and the shapes of some larger islets have changed significantly over the past century.

Flora, the most distinguishing feature of each islet, varies as a function of both islet size and prior human habitation. Larger islets support inward zones of shrub, primarily "Tournefortia argentea", and the largest possess a central forested region usually dominated by groves of "Pisonia grandis" trees. Artifacts, including wells, homesites, and marae, on several islets, speak to prior human habitation, as do stands of non-indigenous "Cocos" palms; however, many islets have little or no evidence of human influence, despite past disturbance.

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List of islets

References

* (Text of "Caroline Island" chapter online at: cite web | title=Caroline Island (Millennium Island), Line Islands, Republic of Kiribati | format=HTML | work=Jane's Oceania Home Page | url=http://www.janeresture.com/kiribati_line/caroline.htm)
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*cite web | title=Line Islands - Millennium | format=HTML | work=Oceandots.com | url=http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/line/caroline.htm | accessdate=2006-06-11