Flint Island, Coral island in Line Islands, Kiribati.
Flint Island is a low-lying coral island in the southern part of the Line Islands, belonging to Kiribati. It sits flat at sea level, covered with low vegetation, and is ringed by coral reefs along its coastline.
Spanish sailors came across the island in the 16th century and called it Tiburones after the sharks they spotted in the surrounding waters. The name Flint came later, given by British sailors who passed through the region.
Flint Island is one of the most remote parts of Kiribati and sees almost no regular human presence, which keeps its reef and shoreline in a natural state. Divers and researchers who reach it often describe the surrounding waters as some of the most undisturbed they have encountered in the Pacific.
The island has no permanent settlement or safe anchorage, so any visit requires advance planning and coordination with Kiribati authorities for the necessary permits. Conditions at sea in this part of the Pacific can change quickly, so timing and preparation matter a great deal.
The interior of the island holds several brackish water lakes, including Lake Arundel, which scientists believe formed from an ancient lagoon that became enclosed over time. Finding lakes inside a small coral island in the open Pacific is something most visitors would not expect.
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