Jarvis Island

Jarvis Island

Jarvis Island Guano Tramway

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Amaranth (barquentine)

Government House on Jarvis Island (80-CF-798677-9)

Camp at Jarvis Island (80-CF-798677-7)

Jarvis Island is an uninhabited 4.5 km² coral island located in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands. It is part of the United States Minor Outlying Islands and is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

History

Jarvis Island was discovered by the British in 1821. It was named after the owners of the British ship Eliza Francis, which sighted the island. The island was claimed by the United States under the Guano Islands Act of 1856 due to its guano deposits, which were mined until the late 19th century. The island was abandoned after the guano was exhausted.

In 1935, the island was reoccupied as part of the American Equatorial Islands Colonization Project, but this was abandoned during World War II. Since then, Jarvis Island has remained uninhabited.

Geography

Jarvis Island is a low, flat island with a maximum elevation of about 7 meters above sea level. The island is surrounded by a narrow fringing reef. The climate is tropical, with little rainfall, constant wind, and strong sun. The island has no natural fresh water sources.

Flora and Fauna

The island's vegetation is sparse, consisting mainly of grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs. The island is an important habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife. It is part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which provides protection for its unique ecosystem.

Administration

Jarvis Island is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Access to the island is restricted and a special use permit is required for entry. The island is visited annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for monitoring and research purposes.

See also

• United States Minor Outlying Islands
• Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument
• Guano Islands Act
• American Equatorial Islands Colonization Project