Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge
Information
Kingman Reef is an American National Wildlife Refuge in the North Pacific, about 930 miles north of Honolulu, Hawaii, and 36 miles from the nearest airstrip in Palmyra Atoll. The island is the northernmost island in the Line Islands, also known as the US Minor Outlying Islands. The reef is 26 square miles, about the size of Manhattan. The lagoon is as deep as 270 feet in some areas, and is a major attraction for SCUBA divers. The highest point on the island is only 5 feet above sea level, which means it will need to be highly maintained to be kept above the water. The reef has no natural resources (as of now), and supports no economical activity. The island is made of washed up coral and limestone, and is often submerged.
History
Kingman reef was discovered in 1798 by Edmund Fanning, and later claimed by the US in 1860 under the Guano Islands Act, even though there is no proof that guano ever existed on the reef; it was probably a lie. In 1922 Lorrin Thurston formally annexed the reef as a US territory, and gave a speech on the shore of Kingman Reef. In the 1930s, the island served as a stopping point midway between Hawaii and Samoa by Pan American Airways. A supply ship "the North Wind" was stationed in Kingman Reef during this time, and provided food, lodging, and meals to passengers. After a tragic accident, Pan American Airways stopped using Kingman Reef. In 2001, Kingman Reef was declared a National Wildlife Refuge by Bruce Babbitt.
What To See and Facts
Getting Here
To get to Kingman Reef, you will either need to take a large boat, or a plane. The nearest airport is Cooper Airport in Palmyra Atoll. From there, the reef is only 36 miles north. Currently, planes to Cooper Airport must be approved by the US since Palmyra Atoll is inhabited most of the year. In the future, Zakistan Airlines will feature small planes from the US to Palmyra, and then a ferry will take you to the reef from the airport.
Getting Around
Kingman Reef is just a small reef with a few strips of land. Walking is the only type of transportation on land. In the water, you may need a small boat to drive around. In the future, the Zakistan Tourism Agency will supply rafts to all visitors.
Shopping and Dining
The reef does not have any businesses, but in the future Palmyra Atoll will. They will only be small gift shops though. It is advised that you bring any supplies you think you may need while on the reef. If there is an emergency, Palmyra Atoll has some light medical supplies. As for dining, a restaurant will be opened in the future on Palmyra Atoll, but for now there is no dining options. You must bring your own food.
Lodging
No hotels are on the reef, nor will there be any on Palmyra Atoll later on. There will be rental homes on Palmyra Atoll, and the reef in the future that sleep up to 4. These homes will be Tumbleweed Tiny Houses, so there will be no spacious homes. Real estate may be possible in the future.
Kingman Reef is an American National Wildlife Refuge in the North Pacific, about 930 miles north of Honolulu, Hawaii, and 36 miles from the nearest airstrip in Palmyra Atoll. The island is the northernmost island in the Line Islands, also known as the US Minor Outlying Islands. The reef is 26 square miles, about the size of Manhattan. The lagoon is as deep as 270 feet in some areas, and is a major attraction for SCUBA divers. The highest point on the island is only 5 feet above sea level, which means it will need to be highly maintained to be kept above the water. The reef has no natural resources (as of now), and supports no economical activity. The island is made of washed up coral and limestone, and is often submerged.
History
Kingman reef was discovered in 1798 by Edmund Fanning, and later claimed by the US in 1860 under the Guano Islands Act, even though there is no proof that guano ever existed on the reef; it was probably a lie. In 1922 Lorrin Thurston formally annexed the reef as a US territory, and gave a speech on the shore of Kingman Reef. In the 1930s, the island served as a stopping point midway between Hawaii and Samoa by Pan American Airways. A supply ship "the North Wind" was stationed in Kingman Reef during this time, and provided food, lodging, and meals to passengers. After a tragic accident, Pan American Airways stopped using Kingman Reef. In 2001, Kingman Reef was declared a National Wildlife Refuge by Bruce Babbitt.
What To See and Facts
- Several giant clams can be found in the shallow areas.
- The reef has 130 different species of coral. That is more than 3 times the diversity found in Hawaii.
- Endangered green sea turtles from Palmyra Atoll travel to Kingman Reef at low tide.
- Coconut palm saplings often wash up on the shores, but quickly die, due to harsh tides.
- Scuba diving in the lagoon offers one of the world's only completely natural coral reefs.
Getting Here
To get to Kingman Reef, you will either need to take a large boat, or a plane. The nearest airport is Cooper Airport in Palmyra Atoll. From there, the reef is only 36 miles north. Currently, planes to Cooper Airport must be approved by the US since Palmyra Atoll is inhabited most of the year. In the future, Zakistan Airlines will feature small planes from the US to Palmyra, and then a ferry will take you to the reef from the airport.
Getting Around
Kingman Reef is just a small reef with a few strips of land. Walking is the only type of transportation on land. In the water, you may need a small boat to drive around. In the future, the Zakistan Tourism Agency will supply rafts to all visitors.
Shopping and Dining
The reef does not have any businesses, but in the future Palmyra Atoll will. They will only be small gift shops though. It is advised that you bring any supplies you think you may need while on the reef. If there is an emergency, Palmyra Atoll has some light medical supplies. As for dining, a restaurant will be opened in the future on Palmyra Atoll, but for now there is no dining options. You must bring your own food.
Lodging
No hotels are on the reef, nor will there be any on Palmyra Atoll later on. There will be rental homes on Palmyra Atoll, and the reef in the future that sleep up to 4. These homes will be Tumbleweed Tiny Houses, so there will be no spacious homes. Real estate may be possible in the future.