Johnston Atoll

Johnston Atoll is a remote coral formation in the central Pacific, over 800 miles (1,300 km) southwest of Hawaii. Four small islets sit within an oval lagoon, surrounded by shallow reef flats and deep ocean water.

The U.S. Navy established an aviation station here in 1934 and built runways over the following decades. Military operations ceased by 2004, and a long-term cleanup process began.

The name comes from an English naval captain, Charles Johnston, who discovered the atoll in the early 1800s. The reef lagoon served as a storage site for chemical weapons before the 1970s, which still shapes how the area looks today.

Visitors must obtain a special permit from federal wildlife authorities, as the site is protected for conservation reasons. Trips are extremely rare and require careful coordination with government officials.

The atoll lies over three hours by air from the nearest inhabited land, with no permanent residents. This isolation allowed military activities to remain largely unseen for decades.

Location: United States Minor Outlying Islands

Inception: 1858

Elevation above the sea: 5 m

Part of: Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, United States Minor Outlying Islands

GPS coordinates: 16.75000,-169.51667

Latest update: December 18, 2025 20:23