Phoenix Islands, Protected archipelago in Pacific Ocean, Kiribati.
The Phoenix Islands are a group of eight coral atolls scattered across more than 400,000 square kilometers of ocean, forming one of the largest marine protected areas on Earth. Most of the atolls lie uninhabited in the turquoise waters of the central Pacific, surrounded by reefs that extend just below the surface.
American whaling ships discovered this island group during the 19th century, leading to British annexation in 1889. The islands later became part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony before joining Kiribati at independence in 1979.
Polynesian navigation methods based on stars and ocean currents still guide journeys between the atolls today. The small number of residents practice traditional fishing techniques and carefully observe the migration patterns of marine life through the surrounding waters.
Access requires special permits and travel is only possible with authorized vessels, as there are no regular flight connections. Anyone planning a journey should prepare for several weeks at sea and be aware of the extremely remote location.
Kanton holds remnants of military installations from World War II, including bunkers and aircraft runways from the Pacific campaign era. The abandoned structures lie scattered across the atoll and are slowly being reclaimed by tropical vegetation.
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