Birnie Island, Coral island in Phoenix Islands, Kiribati
Birnie Island is a coral island in the Phoenix Islands measuring roughly 1.2 kilometers long and 0.5 kilometers wide. A dried lagoon occupies the southeastern section of the island, shaping its flat terrain.
A whaling ship called Sydney discovered the island in 1823 and named it after James Birnie, brother of a London merchant. This discovery was part of early European exploration of this remote Pacific island group.
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area encompasses Birnie Island within its 425,300 square kilometers of marine reserve, preserving natural marine ecosystems.
Landing is possible on the sheltered lee side of the island, though permanent anchorage facilities for vessels do not exist. Visitors should prepare for conditions that require careful planning for arrival.
The island hosts large seabird colonies across its roughly 20 hectares of land covered with low shrubs and grasses that lack trees. This sparse vegetation creates a habitat completely different from typical tropical islands with dense forests.
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