Jarvis Island

Jarvis Island is a protected coral island in the Pacific Ocean, part of the United States Minor Outlying Islands. It covers roughly 5 square kilometers of flat land and rises just a few meters above sea level, surrounded by a narrow coral reef.

A British ship sighted the island in 1821, and the United States annexed it in 1858 under the Guano Islands Act to exploit guano deposits. In the 20th century it was converted into a wildlife refuge and withdrawn from all commercial activity.

The name honors British captain James Jarvis, who arrived at the island in 1856 and claimed it for his country. Today it remains uninhabited and serves solely as a refuge for seabirds and sea turtles that nest along its sandy shores.

Access requires special permission from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, normally granted only to scientists and researchers. There are no docks or visitor facilities, and arrival is by boat only under challenging conditions.

The island has a dry basin at its center instead of the water-filled lagoon found in most Pacific coral islands. This feature formed through evaporation and makes the landscape unusually flat and open.

Location: United States Minor Outlying Islands

Inception: 1935

Elevation above the sea: 7 m

Part of: Line Islands, Central Line Islands

GPS coordinates: -0.37207,-159.99699

Latest update: December 15, 2025 05:58