Ailinglaplap Atoll
Encyclopedia
Ailinglaplap or Ailinglapalap (Marshallese
: , ha) is a coral atoll of 56 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain
in the Marshall Islands
. It is located 152 kilometres (94.4 mi) northwest of Jaluit Atoll
. Its total land area is only 14.7 square kilometres (5.7 sq mi), but it encloses a lagoon of 750 square kilometres (289.6 sq mi). The economy of the atoll is dominated by coconut
plantations.The population of the atoll was 1,959 as of 1999. Jabat Island
is located off the coast of Ailinglaplap Atoll. The former president of the Marshall Islands, Kessai Note
was born on Jeh Island, Ailinglaplap Atoll.
"Ailinglaplap" translates as "greatest atoll" ( (atoll) + (superlative suffix)), because the greatest legends of the Marshallese people were created there. The four major population centers on Ailinglaplap Atoll are the settlements of Woja, at the westernmost end of the atoll, Jeh in the northeast, and Airok and Bouj in the south.
of the Empire of Japan
. Following the end of World War II, it came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986.
The current iroijlaplap
(or paramount chief) of Ailinglaplap is Anjua Loeak
.
when its aircraft are operational:
Marshallese language
The Marshallese language is a Malayo-Polynesian language of the Marshall Islands, and the principal language of the country...
: , ha) is a coral atoll of 56 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain
Ralik Chain
The Ralik Chain is a chain of islands within the island nation of the Marshall Islands. Ralik means "sunset". It lies just to the west of the country's other island chain, the Ratak Chain...
in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. It is located 152 kilometres (94.4 mi) northwest of Jaluit Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Jaluit Atoll is a large coral atoll of 91 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only , but it encloses a lagoon with an area of . Most of the land area is on largest islet of Jaluit . Jaluit is located...
. Its total land area is only 14.7 square kilometres (5.7 sq mi), but it encloses a lagoon of 750 square kilometres (289.6 sq mi). The economy of the atoll is dominated by coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
plantations.The population of the atoll was 1,959 as of 1999. Jabat Island
Jabat Island
Jabat Island is an island in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only , and has a length of . It is located from Ailinglapalap Atoll...
is located off the coast of Ailinglaplap Atoll. The former president of the Marshall Islands, Kessai Note
Kessai Note
Kessai Hesa Note is a former President of the Marshall Islands, having served from 2000 to 2008.Having served as Speaker of Parliament since 1988, he was elected President in 2000, and was the first commoner to be elected to the Presidency...
was born on Jeh Island, Ailinglaplap Atoll.
"Ailinglaplap" translates as "greatest atoll" ( (atoll) + (superlative suffix)), because the greatest legends of the Marshallese people were created there. The four major population centers on Ailinglaplap Atoll are the settlements of Woja, at the westernmost end of the atoll, Jeh in the northeast, and Airok and Bouj in the south.
History
Ailinglaplap Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884. A number of European trading stations were established on the islands to Ailingkaplap as part of the copra trade. After World War I, the island came under the South Pacific MandateSouth Pacific Mandate
The was the Japanese League of Nations mandate consisting of several groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean which came under the administration of Japan after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I.-Early history:Under the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, after the start of World...
of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. Following the end of World War II, it came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986.
The current iroijlaplap
Iroijlaplap
Iroijlaplap is the title given to the paramount chiefs in the Marshall Islands. An ordinary chief holds the title of Iroij ....
(or paramount chief) of Ailinglaplap is Anjua Loeak
Anjua Loeak
Anjua Loeak is the current iroijlaplap of Ailinglaplap, and one of four paramount chiefs in the Marshall Islands. Loeak's domain lies in the Ralik Chain and is shared with the iroijlaplap of Kwajalein, currently Imata Kabua....
.
Infrastructure
There are 3 airstrips on the atoll, which are served by Air Marshall IslandsAir Marshall Islands
Air Marshall Islands is an airline based in Majuro, in the Marshall Islands. It is the flag carrier of the Marshall Islands, operating inter-island services in the South Pacific. Its main base is Marshall Islands International Airport, Majuro.- History :...
when its aircraft are operational:
- Ailinglaplap Airport is located to the south: 7°16′45"N 168°49′32"E.
- Jeh AirportJeh AirportJeh Airport is a public use airstrip at Jeh on Ailinglaplap Atoll, Marshall Islands. This airstrip is assigned the location identifier JEJ by the IATA....
is located to the northeast: 7°33′54"N 168°57′42"E. - Woja AirportWoja AirportWoja Airport is a public use airstrip at Woja on Ailinglaplap Atoll, Marshall Islands. This airstrip is assigned the location identifier WJA by the IATA....
is located to west: 7°27′03"N 168°33′00"E.