Rongerik Atoll
Encyclopedia
Rongerik Atoll or Rongdrik Atoll (Marshallese
: , rw) is a coral atoll of 17 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and is located in the Ralik Chain
of the Marshall Islands
, approximately 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) east of Bikini Atoll
. Its total land area is only 1.68 square kilometre (0.648651626435459 sq mi), but it encloses a lagoon of 144 square kilometres (55.6 sq mi).
of the Empire of Japan
, although the island was uninhabited. 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.
It is most famous as the temporary location from March 7, 1946 through March 14, 1948 of the Bikini Atoll's indigenous population while the United States government conducted the Operation Crossroads
nuclear tests. After months of food shortages and malnutrition, they were moved first to Kwajalein
and finally to Kili Island
. On March 1, 1954, Rongerik was exposed to radioactive fallout as a result of the detonation of Operation Castle
's Bravo
.
Traditionally, Marshall Islanders believe Rongerik to be haunted by the Demon Girls of Ujae, which contributed to its not being inhabited.
Marshallese language
The Marshallese language is a Malayo-Polynesian language of the Marshall Islands, and the principal language of the country...
: , rw) is a coral atoll of 17 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and is located in 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...
of 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...
, approximately 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) east of Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll is an atoll, listed as a World Heritage Site, in the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, part of Republic of the Marshall Islands....
. Its total land area is only 1.68 square kilometre (0.648651626435459 sq mi), but it encloses a lagoon of 144 square kilometres (55.6 sq mi).
History
Rongerik Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884. 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...
, although the island was uninhabited. 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.
It is most famous as the temporary location from March 7, 1946 through March 14, 1948 of the Bikini Atoll's indigenous population while the United States government conducted the Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945...
nuclear tests. After months of food shortages and malnutrition, they were moved first to Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
and finally to Kili Island
Kili Island
Kili Island or Kili Atoll is a coral atoll located in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. It is approximately southwest of Jaluit...
. On March 1, 1954, Rongerik was exposed to radioactive fallout as a result of the detonation of Operation Castle
Operation Castle
Operation Castle was a United States series of high-energy nuclear tests by Joint Task Force SEVEN at Bikini Atoll beginning in March 1954...
's Bravo
Castle Bravo
Castle Bravo was the code name given to the first U.S. test of a dry fuel thermonuclear hydrogen bomb device, detonated on March 1, 1954 at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, as the first test of Operation Castle. Castle Bravo was the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated by the United States ,...
.
Traditionally, Marshall Islanders believe Rongerik to be haunted by the Demon Girls of Ujae, which contributed to its not being inhabited.
See also
- Also contaminated by Castle Bravo test: Rongelap AtollRongelap AtollRongelap Atoll or Namorik Atoll is a coral atoll of 61 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...
, Utirik AtollUtirik AtollUtirik Atoll or Utrik Atoll is a coral atoll of 10 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only , but it encloses a lagoon with an area of...
, Ailinginae AtollAilinginae AtollAilinginae Atoll is a coral atoll of 25 islands in the Pacific Ocean, on the northern end of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only , but it encloses a lagoon of . It is located approximately west of Rongelap Atoll. The landscape is low-lying with only the top few...
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