Knox Atoll

Knox Atoll is a coral island group of 18 islands in the eastern chain of the Marshall Islands. The islands surround a large central lagoon and together form a typical atoll formation.

The atoll was claimed by the German Empire in 1885 and later came under Japanese control after World War I. It then came under American administration until the Marshall Islands gained independence in 1986.

The people here have long centered their lives around the water, relying on the lagoon and ocean as their primary resource. The way residents navigate between islands and read the reef shows a deep connection to this specific environment.

The islands are very flat and sit barely above sea level, which means visitors should approach with caution. The best time to visit is during the drier months, and travel is arranged through airports on nearby islands.

A major typhoon in 1905 destroyed one of the islands so severely that it was stripped down to bare coral skeleton. Only two people survived this catastrophic storm and drifted for over a day in the water before being rescued.

Elevation above the sea: 3 m

Part of: Ratak Chain

GPS coordinates: 5.89626,172.16529

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03