Palmyra Atoll
May 7, 2002 -
© Jeanette Nelson
Preserved 1000 miles south of Hawaii, Palmyra is one of the only intact coral ecosystems on earth. It has been through various sorts of things, such as murders and wars, and has withstood the ruling of different rulers and kings. In 1802, Captain Sawle and his crew were blown aboard the Atoll and were given credit for it's discovery.
In 1816, the Spanish Ship Esperanza wrecked on the reef. Not knowing what else to do, the crew supposedly buried their treasure underneath one of the palm groves. After a year had passed, the crew set out upon three seperate rafts. Two of the rafts disappeared and one was found and taken aboard an American Whaling vessel. The sole survivor shared his story and died soon afterwards.
Palmyra is made almost entirely out of coral. Some of the islets on the island have been made by man, but the actual island itself is made out of coral. The island is home to many species of tropical creatures including birds, crabs, fish, and different oceanic breeds. Different types of currents sweep through the reefs and lagoons keeping the water clean and full of nutrients. The reef itself is full of sea life that is so small that it is impossible to see with the naked human eye. It is also full of very colourful plants and creatures of every size and shape that leaves many that see it in complete wonder.
The reef is thousands of feet thick and provides different habitat diversities. In some areas, the light increase and in other decreases. This provides either a daylight or a twilight setting no matter what part of the day. The Great Western Terrace is the largest reef in all of Palmyra, reaching a length from anywhere to 30 to 60 feet in places.
The waters of El-Nino killed most of the coral reefs in 1997-1998 upon the Western Reef. Fortunately, the coral has begun to repopulate itself and has started to grow in amazing numbers. In another decade, the reef may be fully recovered. The coral reef provides it's own ecosystem. The high tide line provides homes for several sorts of land animals and plants while in the water around the lagoon different varieties of fish live. The island itself is made up of many different varieties of coral suck as Stony Red Fan coral and Blue Plate coral. Within the East Reef Pool Coral Garden, over 50 species of coral can be found. The garden is 10 to 15 feet deep. Many of the coral found within the garden cannot be found anywhere else upon the reef.
In 1816, the Spanish Ship Esperanza wrecked on the reef. Not knowing what else to do, the crew supposedly buried their treasure underneath one of the palm groves. After a year had passed, the crew set out upon three seperate rafts. Two of the rafts disappeared and one was found and taken aboard an American Whaling vessel. The sole survivor shared his story and died soon afterwards.
Palmyra is made almost entirely out of coral. Some of the islets on the island have been made by man, but the actual island itself is made out of coral. The island is home to many species of tropical creatures including birds, crabs, fish, and different oceanic breeds. Different types of currents sweep through the reefs and lagoons keeping the water clean and full of nutrients. The reef itself is full of sea life that is so small that it is impossible to see with the naked human eye. It is also full of very colourful plants and creatures of every size and shape that leaves many that see it in complete wonder.
The reef is thousands of feet thick and provides different habitat diversities. In some areas, the light increase and in other decreases. This provides either a daylight or a twilight setting no matter what part of the day. The Great Western Terrace is the largest reef in all of Palmyra, reaching a length from anywhere to 30 to 60 feet in places.
The waters of El-Nino killed most of the coral reefs in 1997-1998 upon the Western Reef. Fortunately, the coral has begun to repopulate itself and has started to grow in amazing numbers. In another decade, the reef may be fully recovered. The coral reef provides it's own ecosystem. The high tide line provides homes for several sorts of land animals and plants while in the water around the lagoon different varieties of fish live. The island itself is made up of many different varieties of coral suck as Stony Red Fan coral and Blue Plate coral. Within the East Reef Pool Coral Garden, over 50 species of coral can be found. The garden is 10 to 15 feet deep. Many of the coral found within the garden cannot be found anywhere else upon the reef.
The copyright of the article Palmyra Atoll in Deforestation is owned by Jeanette Nelson. Permission to republish Palmyra Atoll in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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