Midway Atoll, Wildlife refuge and unorganized territory in North Pacific Ocean, US
Midway Atoll is a remote territory in the North Pacific composed of three small islands: Sand Island, Eastern Island, and Spit Island. Coral reefs encircle the islands and form a protected lagoon between them.
In June 1942 a decisive naval battle took place here when American forces defeated the Japanese fleet. This turning point fundamentally changed the course of the war in the Pacific.
Military structures from World War II remain visible across the islands, preserving the memory of naval personnel who served there. Today a small community of Fish and Wildlife Service staff works to protect the islands and their wildlife.
The territory follows Samoa Time and hosts around forty people, mostly Fish and Wildlife Service staff. Access is strictly regulated because it operates as a wildlife refuge.
Millions of seabirds nest here, including the largest colony of Laysan albatrosses in the world. The birds return to the same spot every year and shape life on the islands.
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