It was on this Christmas Island that Britain carried out a series of nuclear tests in the 1950s. The second Christmas Island, which is still known by the same name today, is located in the Indian Ocean, some 960 miles northwest of the Australian mainland.
It's not to be confused with the other Christmas Island, which is hundreds of miles northwest of Australia. Rather, Kiritimati is about 1,300 miles south of Honolulu, Hawaii, and 3,400 miles northeast of New Zealand. Kiritimati is part of the nation of Kiribati.
There's a Christmas Island in the Pacific as well, visited by Captain Cook on Christmas Eve, 1777. Today it's known as Kiritimati, because in the language of the Republic of Kiribati, the letters "t-i" are pronounced with an 's' sound.
Kiritimati, Kiribati (Christmas Island) Pronounced “Ki-ris-mas,” Kiritimati Island has a large infilled lagoon that gives it the largest land area (125 square miles, 321 square km) of any atoll in the world. Captain Cook named the atoll Christmas Island when he arrived on Christmas Eve in 1777.
Why is Christmas Island called Christmas Island in Australia?
Christmas Island's geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of interest to scientists and naturalists. The territory derives its name from its discovery on Christmas Day 1643 by Captain William Mynors.
Passports and visas are not required when travelling to Christmas Island from the Australian mainland. However, photographic identification, such as an Australian Driver's Licence or Proof of Age card, must be produced for each passenger (including children) for clearance through Customs and Immigration.
The people of Kiribati speak Gilbertese (also known as Kiribatese or Ikiribati), an Oceanic language. English is the other official language, but is not used very often outside the island capital of South Tarawa. It is more likely that some English is mixed in its use with Gilbertese.
Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean, 1500 km west of the Australian mainland and 2600 km from Perth. Although it is an Australian territory, Christmas Island's nearest neighbour is Indonesia, which lies about 350 km to the north. The island is around 500 km from Jakarta.
The British began expanding self-government in the islands during the 1960s, clearing the way for the Gibert and Ellice Islands splitting in 1975. Kiribati eventually became independent on July 12, 1979.
Tourism in Kiribati is still developing and is becoming increasingly important for the country. Due to its location, Kiribati is one of the least visited countries in the world, recording just 5,663 international visitors in 2017.
It was on this Christmas Island that Britain carried out a series of nuclear tests in the 1950s. The second Christmas Island, which is still known by the same name today, is located in the Indian Ocean, some 960 miles northwest of the Australian mainland.
The original inhabitants of Kiribati are Gilbertese, a Micronesian people. Approximately 90% of the population of Kiribati lives on the atolls of the Gilbert Islands. Although the Line Islands are about 2,000 miles east of the Gilbert Islands, most inhabitants of the Line Islands are also Gilbertese.
How far is it from Christmas Island to Hawaiʻi Island? The distance between Christmas Island and Hawaiʻi Island is 7145 miles. How long does it take to get from Christmas Island to Hawaiʻi Island? It takes approximately 34h 24m to get from Christmas Island to Hawaiʻi Island, including transfers.
Currently the only way to get there is by one of the scheduled air services. Air Pacific fly twice weekly from Nadi, Fiji to Tarawa and once a week to Kiritimati. Our Airline fly once a week from Brisbane to Tarawa, via Honiara and Nauru. Air Kiribati fly from Tarawa to Nadi, Fiji once a week.
Kiritimati (Gilbertese pronunciation: [kiˈrɪsmæs]), also known as Christmas Island, is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands. It is part of the Republic of Kiribati.
Is there such a place as Christmas Island in Nova Scotia?
Fun Facts: - There really is a place called Christmas Island in Nova Scotia. However, it's on Cape Breton Island. It's a small community and not really an island. - There is no airport in the community of Christmas Island.
Working at Christmas Island is a challenging but immensely rewarding experience for anyone who wants to make a difference in a unique and highly fragile wilderness environment. Our current job vacancies are advertised on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.
In Kiribati, 21.9% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2019. In Kiribati, the unemployment rate in 2020 was 11%. For every 1,000 babies born in Kiribati in 2023, 55 died before their 5th birthday.
The distance between London and Kiribati is 13737 km. How long does it take to get from London to Kiribati? It takes approximately 35h 57m to get from London to Kiribati, including transfers.
Freshly caught seafood, pork, chicken, and vital food crops such as coconut, taro, breadfruit, pandanus fruit, pumpkin, papaya and bananas, are the traditional diet in Kiribati. Imported foods like rice, flour, and sugar are important today as part of the staple diet in Kiribati.
How much does it cost to live on Christmas Island?
Mr McDonald says the cost of living is now estimated at about 180 per cent above that on the mainland. An iceberg lettuce at the local store can cost as much as $12. A housing shortage, exacerbated by the influx of Immigration Department workers, means some locals are paying as much as $1,000 rent a week.
Flights to Christmas Island depart from Perth Airport Terminal 1 (Perth International Airport). Carry-on luggage is subject to international limits for liquids. All travellers, including children are required to show photo ID to travel. While a passport is preferred, it's not essential.
In 1958, the island was excised from Singapore and sovereignty was transferred to Australia. As part of the transfer, Australia paid Singapore £2,800,000 as compensation for lost phosphate revenue. Christmas Island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958 – a day still celebrated on the island as Territory Day.
