Canton and Enderbury Islands, Pacific atolls in central Kiribati
Canton and Enderbury Islands are two coral atolls in the central Pacific, forming part of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Of the two, only Canton has a small resident population today, while Enderbury remains uninhabited.
The United States and the United Kingdom set up joint administration over the islands in 1939 to resolve competing territorial claims. This arrangement lasted until 1979, when Kiribati became independent and took over sovereignty.
American settlers arrived on Enderbury in 1938 as part of a territorial claim effort, leaving behind structures that still stand today. Walking among these remnants gives a rare sense of how mid-20th century Pacific settlement attempts actually looked on the ground.
Reaching the islands requires advance planning, as permits are needed to enter the marine protected area and access is limited. Anyone considering a visit should be prepared for very few services and a remote environment.
A radio station built on Canton in 1937 served as a key communications hub for military operations across the Pacific during World War Two. The remains of this facility are one of the least known examples of wartime infrastructure in such a remote location.
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