Anatahan, Volcanic island in Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean.
Anatahan is an elongated volcanic island in the Northern Mariana Islands with a large stratovolcano dominating its landscape. The island features a compound summit caldera and multiple crater cones that define its rugged terrain.
The island was documented by Spanish explorer Bernardo de la Torre in 1543, after which the original population dispersed or was relocated over time. During World War II, it briefly became a refuge for stranded Japanese sailors.
The island became internationally known when 31 Japanese sailors found refuge there in 1944, forming a complex society with Kazuko Higa until 1951.
The island is uninhabited and difficult to reach, requiring careful planning and maritime experience for any visit. Scientific monitoring stations track seismic activity, which limits casual tourism to the area.
After World War II, approximately 30 Japanese sailors built an independent community on the island and remained until 1951, living an isolated self-sufficient life. They used local resources like coconuts and seafood to sustain themselves and create their own society.
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