Canton and Enderbury Islands

Canton and Enderbury consist of two coral atolls located 1,850 miles south of Hawaii, with Canton measuring 4.8 miles and Enderbury 3 miles in length.

The United States and United Kingdom established joint administration of these islands in 1939, creating a formal condominium that lasted until 1979.

Four American colonists settled on Enderbury in 1938 through the American Equatorial Islands Colonization Project to affirm territorial claims.

The islands became part of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area in 2006, with Canton maintaining a small population while Enderbury remains uninhabited.

A radio station established on Canton Island in 1937 served as a critical communication point for Pacific naval and air operations.

Inception: April 6, 1939

GPS coordinates: -3.00000,-171.40000

Latest update: March 5, 2025 11:14