Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 1. Physical Setting of the Islands
Draft 1 March 2007
The soil on Nikumaroro was reasonably developed (Neilson 2002).
ORONA (HULL)
Dimensions - Orona (Hull) is about 7.2 by 4.0 km (4.5 by 2.5 miles) (Bryan 1941 and 1942).
The greatest length is about 8.9 km (5.5 miles).
A satellite image of Orona is provided in Figure III-1.9 below.
Figure III-1.9. Orona:
A - Satellite image (source: http://oceandots.com/pacific/rawaki/orona.htm);
B – Chart (source: U.S. Government Chart of 1943).
A. B.
Lagoon - There were 4 ponds on Orona (Government of Kiribati 1995). Milkfish were
observed in some of these ponds.
Lagoon Openings - In 1887, there were more than 15 openings, but none were navigable
(Ellis 1937). Hydrographic Office (1916) noted that there was a boat passage on the
northwest side.
The north and south sides were cut by narrow, shallow channels to the lagoon (Bryan 1941
and 1942). The number and position of these channels varies with storms and shifting sand.
In 1924, there were 17 channels on the north and 4 on the south (Bryan 1941 and 1942; see
also Maude 1937). In 1941, there were 20 channels on the north. According to the
Hydrographic Office (1940), the lagoon had two openings to the ocean.
Hobbs (1945) noted that the only opening could accommodate a small boat had been blasted
through. The lagoon had a depth of 15.2 to 18.3 m (50 to 60 ft) (Bryan 1941 and 1942). It
contained several coral heads, some come close to the surface.
Dahl (1980) reported that the lagoon on Orona (Hull) was open. Tioti et al (2001) noted that
the channels had a depth of 1 m.
According to Neemia and Thaman (1993), Orona has navigable channel access to the lagoon.
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