Teraina, also known as Washington Island (both names are constitutional[1]) and formerly also Prospect Island and New York Island, is a coral atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, part of the Northern Line Islands belonging to Kiribati. The island has an area of 7.8 km² (3 mi²), and the population in 1990 was 936 (more than 1,000 in 2000). It is located at 4.71° North latitude and 160.76° West longitude. At the western end of the island is the capital, Tangkore (Tengkore). Teraina differs from other atolls by having a large freshwater lake concealed within its ubiquitous coconut palm.
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Political Geography
All villages are listed in the following table, with the preliminary census results of 2005, counterclockwise around the perimeter of the atoll, starting in the northeast with Abaiang and ending in the southeast with Onauea:
| No. | Village | Population (Census 2005) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abaiang | 91 |
| 2 | Kauamwemwe | 106 |
| 3 | Uteute | 72 |
| 4 | Kaaitara | 34 |
| 5 | Tangkore | 203 |
| 6 | Matanibike | 191 |
| 7 | Arabata | 190 |
| 8 | Mwakeitari | 92 |
| 9 | Onauea | 176 |
| Teraina | 1155 |
History
The island was first sighted by American explorer Edmund Fanning on June 12, 1798, who named the island for George Washington. The island was subsequently claimed under the Guano Islands Act of 1856 for the United States under the name Prospect.[2] Guano was not dug or exported. It was occupied by Captain John English and people from Manihiki in about 1860. It was annexed by the British by Commander Nichols of the HMS Cormorant on May 29, 1889. It became a part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony in 1916. The name of the island was translated to Teraina in 1979 when Kiribati gained independence. The major export of Teraina is copra, the dried meat of the coconut. At various times, contract laborers were brought from Manihiki, Tahiti, and the Gilbert Islands to work the coconut plantations.
References
- ^ Parliament of Kiribati - Constitution (html). A mirror of official Kiribati Government website.. Retrieved on 2007-10-10.
- ^ American Polynesia and the Hawaiian Chain. Edwin H. Byryan, Jr. Hionolulu, Hawaii: Tongg Publishing Company, 1942
External links
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| Gilbert Islands | Abaiang · Abemama · Aranuka · Arorae · Beru · Butaritari · Kuria · Maiana · Marakei · Makin · Nikunau · Nonouti · Onotoa · Tabiteuea · Tamana · Tarawa |  |
| Phoenix Islands | Abariringa · Birnie Island · Enderbury Island · Manra Island · McKean Island · Nikumaroro · Orona · Rawaki Island | |
| Line Islands | Caroline Island · Flint Island · Kiritimati · Malden Island · Starbuck Island · Tabuaeran · Teraina · Vostok Island | |
| West of Gilberts | Banaba | |
