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kwajalein atoll

Where to go in Marshall Islands

Bikini Atoll

Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll is an atoll found in the western chain of the Marshall Islands. Despite its name, which evokes images of relaxed fun on the beach, the atoll has experienced dark times related to the chaos of war.

After World War II, in a decision closely related to the start of the Cold War, the United States of America pushed forward with nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll. This caused the local inhabitants to be displaced before the nuclear testing sessions, which totaled 67 between the years 1946 and 1958. Included in the nuclear testing sessions was the explosion the world’s first hydrogen bomb in 1952.

The atoll suffered major geological and natural destruction during these times, when it was exposed to forces equivalent to 7,000 times that of the Hiroshima bomb.

Bikini Atoll has since recovered from nuclear testing, and was named part of the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2010. Nowadays, tourists can see that Bikini Atoll, which for many symbolized the dawn of the nuclear age, is also a paradoxical image of paradise and peace.

Majuro Atoll

Majuro Atoll Majuro Atoll, an oval-shaped island in the group of Marshall Islands, is the country’s economic, political, and transportation center. Composed of 53 islets, the atoll arcs in a slender ribbon of 108km.

Majuro is usually the first stop for tourists to the Marshall Islands. Once called the “Pearl of the Pacific” by Robert Louis Stevenson, Majuro still boasts of the same luster which earned it that title.

Majuro Atoll has a population of roughly 25,000 people, and is the heart of Marshallese tourism. There are plentiful places of attraction and modern facilities here, along with government offices, hospitals, schools, ports, churches, and hotels.

Because the Marshall Islands is a relatively small country, most tourists opt to check in at a hotel in Majuro to serve as their base, while they travel around the islands of the country during the day. They then return to Majuro at night for their night’s rest, before embarking on another journey the next day.

Outer Islands

Outer Islands Visiting the Outer Islands of the Marshall Islands is an adventure that most would not forget. Sometimes using motorboats (which the locals call “boom-booms”), while other times using traditional korkor canoes, tourists can hop around the islands while taking in the beautiful sights.

Journeying around the Outer Islands, you would usually find great dive sites and challenging fishing spots. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals about things you can do around the area – they are very hospitable and friendly, and will be willing to accommodate you.

Only a few of the atolls have guest houses, so if you are planning to spend the night in one of the Outer Islands, make sure that you have a place to stay in. Most of the time though, when staying overnight, a lot of tourists opt to pitch tents on one of the many beaches of the Outer Islands and sleep there, amidst the sand and the relaxing sound of crashing waves.

In present-day Micronesia, there is no other place where the presence of the US military is as pronounced as in Kwajalein Atoll. The US Department of Defense maintains and operates a $4 billion space tracking and missile defense facility on one of the atoll’s islands.

Kwajalein Atoll

kwajalein atoll Kwajalein Atoll is the largest coral atoll in the world, based on lagoon size. The 97 islands of the atoll are surrounded by an immense body of water with an area of 2,175 sq. km.

The lagoon is sometimes referred to as the “world’s biggest catcher’s mitt,” as it is oftentimes the target of intercontinental ballistic missiles being tested and launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base 6,760km away – a distance which is travelled by the missiles in just 40 minutes.

Despite this, you need not worry about being hit by missiles during your island exploration, as announcements about incoming missiles are done months beforehand. A visit to the Kwajalein Atoll will show you the island’s resilience to destruction.

Ebeye

ebeye The US operations in Kwajalein Atoll require a lot of manpower. All the workers assigned there, numbering to around 1,300, live on nearby Ebeye Island.

Ebeye, 5km to the north of Kwajalein Atoll, has a higher population density than Hong Kong. Aside from the 1,300 workers, there are also roughly 12,000 more relatives and friends that live with them on the island. Their accommodations are very modest – one-room shacks of plywood and tin sheets, congested in tenements.

When you visit Ebeye, you will see the stark difference between life on the island and the tourist-friendly conditions in Majuro. Water is hauled in drums from Kwajalein as piped water is only available during certain times, and electricity is on short supply. However, Ebeye is known for having the friendliest people – especially the native children.

One of the major attractions on the island is the performances of the Kwajalein High School Marching Band. Their performances are always a worthy sight to see in the otherwise simple island.

Mili

shipwrecks The islands of Mili, also known as Maloelap, are best known for its many diving and snorkeling sites. Aside from the usual corals and colorful fish, the area boasts of a huge concentration of World War II shipwrecks.

The allure of shipwreck diving comes from the otherworldliness of the things you can see. The wrecks you will explore were once considered “juggernauts” in the sea, and harbingers of destruction. Now, they are lifeless on the sea floor, serving as homes to fish in what seems like another world. Once underwater, you can see the wrecks up close, and even explore the interiors of the bigger ones.

After your underwater adventures, tourists are often invited to take part in the island night dances, where you can eat local food while watching the residents perform beautiful cultural dances.

Laura Beach

Majuro Atoll Laura is a residential area in the western region of Majuro Atoll. It is the highest point on the atoll, at roughly 30 feet above sea level. The locals of Laura are very friendly and hospitable, and offer any amenities that you may be looking for.

The main attraction of Laura is the Laura Beach Park, a peaceful resort located at the far end of Laura. The resort allows you to enjoy various beach activities such as swimming, sunbathing, watersports, and fishing. You can also organize picnics here, where you can enjoy your food while taking in the sights of the beach.

The beaches in Laura are picturesque, as the locals do everything they can for its maintenance – they do a good job at it because the beaches are their main source of income. Pictures taken with your family or friends on the beaches of Laura would most probably make other people think that you were on another more “high-profile,” well-known beach – that’s how lovely its beaches are!

Alele Museum

Alele Museum

If you wish to learn a little bit about the history of Marshallese culture and traditions, then take time to visit the Alele Museum.

The Alele Musuem, named after a traditional Marshallese basket, features exhibits that aim to showcase the rich culture of the Marshall Islands. Included in the exhibits are samples of genuine tools that ancient Marshallese used, artifacts from the ancient villages of the Marshall Islands, traditional canoes from the past that are still in use today, and the earliest photos of the country.

Also on display are collections from the German, Japanese, and American colonial periods, along with beautiful shell collections from Mili Atoll.

One of the more fantastic exhibits in the Museum are the sea navigation charts that the ancient Marshallese used. Made by tying wooden sticks together with rope and shells, the charts show the currents and tides of the sea around the islands – an ingenious invention that originated in the Marshall Islands.

Arno Atoll

  Arno Atoll Arno Atoll has a total of 133 islands, encompassed by three lagoons. Rich in resources, the Arno Atoll is spoken of fondly by Marshallese all over the country. While Arno Atoll is close to Majuro Atoll, its residents live very simple lives, even if the bright lights of Majuro are just an hour’s boat ride away.

In Arno,where roughly 1,700 people reside, every plant has a purpose, be it in medicine, building construction, canoe construction, dyeing, weaving, or as food. Life in Arno is very much unchanged from the past, when people relied on tradition rather than technology.

Arno is also famous for its “love school,” but if you ask for its existence, the locals will deny it. The women of Arno are said to be taught “marital (not martial!) arts” by the elders, who pass down the knowledge from generation to generation.

Visiting Arno Atoll is like a having a blast to the past, which would make you appreciate the fact that, yes, people can live even without all the trappings of technology, a way of life that is usually taken for granted these days.

Roi-Namur

Roi-Namur Roi-Namur is the northernmost island in Kwajalein Atoll. Actually composed of two islands, Roi and Namur, they have been linked together to create one larger island.

The island has a very small population – less than 200. This is perhaps one of the reasons why tourists visit the island – because of the feeling of seclusion that you can get here. The main island of Kwajalein is more than 50 miles away, and people from Roi-Namur usually only go there for shopping or medical needs.

Roi-Namur is mostly self-sufficient, with a good number of cattle and poultry farms on the island. Chickens are the main source of both food and income for its residents, so these are well-taken care of, leading to the island becoming one of the main sources of chicken for the whole country.

If you wish to have some time alone, either by yourself or with a loved one, Roi-Namur gives you a slice of paradise that you can call your own, at least for a little while.