Kiritimati (Christmas Island)
From CruisersWiki
Kiritimati (Christmas Island) There are Port(s) of Entry here
| |
| |
Kiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands and part of the Republic of Kiribati. Nuclear tests were conducted on the island by the United Kingdom in the late 1950s. During these, tests islanders were not evacuated. Subsequently, British servicemen as well as local islanders have claimed to have suffered from exposure to the radiation from these blasts.
The island has the greatest land area of any coral atoll in the world: about 322 square kilometres (124 sq mi); it is about 150 km (93 mi) in the perimeter, while the lagoon shoreline extends for over 48 km (30 mi). Kiritimati comprises over 70% of the total land area of Kiribati, a nation encompassing 33 Pacific atolls and islands. It lies 232 km (144 mi) north of the Equator, 6,700 km (4,200 mi) from Sydney, and 5,360 km (3,330 mi) from San Francisco.
It's roughly 320 km2 (120 sq mi) lagoon opens to the sea in the northwest; Burgle Channel (the entrance to the lagoon) is divided into the northern Cook Island Passage and the southern South Passage. The southeastern part of the lagoon is partially dried out today; essentially, progressing SE from Burgle Channel, the 160 km2 (62 sq mi) main lagoon gradually turns into a network of subsidiary lagoons, tidal flats, partially hypersaline brine ponds and salt pans, which as a whole has about the same area again as the main lagoon. Thus, the land and lagoon areas can only be given approximately, as no firm boundary exists between the main island body and the salt flats.
Kiritimati is the first inhabited place on Earth to experience the New Year each year (see also Caroline Atoll, Kiribati). Despite being 1,530 miles (2,460 km) east of the 180 meridian, a 1995 realignment of the International Dateline by the Republic of Kiribati 'moved' Kiritimati to the west of the dateline.
The entire island is a Wildlife Sanctuary; access to five particularly sensitive areas is restricted.
Charts
See Kiribati.
Weather
See Kiribati.
Passages
See Kiribati.
Communication
During your approach to Kiritimati hail the authorities on VHF channel 16 to inform them of your arrival and need for clearance.
Also see Cruiser's Nets
Entrance
Kiritimati (Christmas Island) has a "port" of entry for Kiribati, London. For details see Entrance: Kiribati.
Berthing
There is no harour here. Yachts have to anchor off.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Anchorages
London
Amenities
Facilities | |
---|---|
Water | ? |
Electricity | ? |
Toilets | ? |
Showers | ? |
Laundry | ? |
Garbage | ? |
Supplies | |
Fuel | ? |
Bottled gas | ? |
Chandlers | ? |
Services | |
Repairs | ? |
Internet | ? |
Mobile connectivity | ? |
Vehicle rentals | ? |
Provisioning
Give the names and locations of supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, etc.
Store name1 [[Kiritimati (Christmas Island)#Store name1|Store name1]] DD.ddd, DD.ddd description, location, tel. +XX XXXX XXXXX.
Store name2 [[Kiritimati (Christmas Island)#Store name2|Store name2]] DD.ddd, DD.ddd description, location, tel. +XX XXXX XXXXX.
Eating out
Give the name of recommended restaurant, tavernas, pastry stores, etc.
- Location1
-
Name [[Kiritimati (Christmas Island)#Name|Name]] DD.ddd, DD.ddd description, tel. +XX XXXX XXXXX.
- Location2
-
Name [[Kiritimati (Christmas Island)#Name|Name]] DD.ddd, DD.ddd description, tel. +XX XXXX XXXXX.
Transportation
- The island's airport, Cassidy International, is served only by Fiji Airways on its once-weekly Nadi (Fiji) – Christmas Island – Honolulu (Hawaii) route.
Tourism
History
Give a short history of the island.
Places to Visit
List places of interest, tours, etc.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Kiritimati at the Wikipedia
- Kiritimati at the Wikivoyage
- Noonsite
References
See Kiribati.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Kiritimati (Christmas Island) and this page's details validated:
- Compiled from research (pilot books, internet, etc.) October, 2018 --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
If you provide a lot of info and this page is almost complete, change {{Page outline}} to {{Page useable}}.
This page has an outline in place but needs completing. Please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to suggest further content or alternatively, if you feel confident to edit this page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
![]() |
---|
Names: Lighthouse, Haiqu, Istioploos |