Pinnacles
Coralline algae reef flat with emergent corals
(Acropora, Pocillopora)
Massive buttresses
Canyons
Amplitheaters and
Steep leeward fore reef slopes
Approximately 158 patch reefs reach the sea surface in the
lagoon, and an estimated 3,000 pinnacle reefs, each with at
least 4 m of vertical relief, are in the subsurface lagoon that
has a maximum depth of 65 m.
Cultural history
Based upon Marshallese oral tradition, archaeology, and
linguistics, the Marshall Islands (including Enewetak
Atoll, Marshall Islands) may have been inhabited for as
long as 2,000–3,000 years with the initial explorers beginning their migrations from the Philippine region of Southeast Asia approximately 5,000 years ago. The Marshallese
are bonded by a singular culture and language, and the
archipelago is divided into two northwest-to-southeast
trending geological and cultural chains termed the Ralik
(“sunrise”) and Ratak (“sunset”), each with separate leadership hierarchies and cultural lineages. All of the
remaining islands and atolls in the archipelago are
inhabited except for six arid northern atolls (Ailinginae,
Bokaak, Bikar, Taka, Erikub, and Rongerik), one small
southern atoll (Ngarikrik), and one central isolated reef
island (Jemo). These eight likely served as pantry reserves
for neighboring inhabited atolls. The remaining atolls and
reef islands were all likely continuously settled except
during temporary evacuations from natural disasters.
However, from 1946 to 1954 the peoples of Utirik,
Rongelap, Enewetak, and Bikini were forced to evacuate
their home atolls during the U.S. nuclear testing program,
and all have been, or are being resettled, except for Bikini
(see “Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands”).
The people of Enewetak are the original and only
inhabitants of Enewetak Atoll, according to their oral
Ocean
Bokoluo
Bokombako
Lagoon
Bokaidrik
Boken
Bokinwotme
Louj
Kirunu
E n j e b i
M
i j i k a d r e k
K i d r i n e n
T a i w e l
E l l e
A e j
L u j o r
E l e l e r o n
A o m
o n
B i j i r e
L o jw a
Al em be l
Billae
B o k e n e l a b
Runit
Boko
Munjor
Inidral
Jinedrol
Ananij
Jinimi
Japtan
Deep entrance
Medren
Bokandretok
Enewetak
Jedrol
Lagoon
Wide passage
Ikuren
Mut
Boken
Kidrenen
Ribewon
passage
Southwest
Biken
N
Nautical miles
0
1
2
3
4
5
10Ј
20Ј
30Ј
E 162Њ
Ocean
40Ј
30
N11Њ20Ј
M a g n e t ic
Enewetak atoll
Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, Figure 2 Map of Enewetak Atoll with the Marshallese names of the islands (Reese, 1987).
382
ENEWETAK ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS
Coralline algae reef flat with emergent corals
(Acropora, Pocillopora)
Massive buttresses
Canyons
Amplitheaters and
Steep leeward fore reef slopes
Approximately 158 patch reefs reach the sea surface in the
lagoon, and an estimated 3,000 pinnacle reefs, each with at
least 4 m of vertical relief, are in the subsurface lagoon that
has a maximum depth of 65 m.
Cultural history
Based upon Marshallese oral tradition, archaeology, and
linguistics, the Marshall Islands (including Enewetak
Atoll, Marshall Islands) may have been inhabited for as
long as 2,000–3,000 years with the initial explorers beginning their migrations from the Philippine region of Southeast Asia approximately 5,000 years ago. The Marshallese
are bonded by a singular culture and language, and the
archipelago is divided into two northwest-to-southeast
trending geological and cultural chains termed the Ralik
(“sunrise”) and Ratak (“sunset”), each with separate leadership hierarchies and cultural lineages. All of the
remaining islands and atolls in the archipelago are
inhabited except for six arid northern atolls (Ailinginae,
Bokaak, Bikar, Taka, Erikub, and Rongerik), one small
southern atoll (Ngarikrik), and one central isolated reef
island (Jemo). These eight likely served as pantry reserves
for neighboring inhabited atolls. The remaining atolls and
reef islands were all likely continuously settled except
during temporary evacuations from natural disasters.
However, from 1946 to 1954 the peoples of Utirik,
Rongelap, Enewetak, and Bikini were forced to evacuate
their home atolls during the U.S. nuclear testing program,
and all have been, or are being resettled, except for Bikini
(see “Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands”).
The people of Enewetak are the original and only
inhabitants of Enewetak Atoll, according to their oral
Ocean
Bokoluo
Bokombako
Lagoon
Bokaidrik
Boken
Bokinwotme
Louj
Kirunu
E n j e b i
M
i j i k a d r e k
K i d r i n e n
T a i w e l
E l l e
A e j
L u j o r
E l e l e r o n
A o m
o n
B i j i r e
L o jw a
Al em be l
Billae
B o k e n e l a b
Runit
Boko
Munjor
Inidral
Jinedrol
Ananij
Jinimi
Japtan
Deep entrance
Medren
Bokandretok
Enewetak
Jedrol
Lagoon
Wide passage
Ikuren
Mut
Boken
Kidrenen
Ribewon
passage
Southwest
Biken
N
Nautical miles
0
1
2
3
4
5
10Ј
20Ј
30Ј
E 162Њ
Ocean
40Ј
30
N11Њ20Ј
M a g n e t ic
Enewetak atoll
Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, Figure 2 Map of Enewetak Atoll with the Marshallese names of the islands (Reese, 1987).
382
ENEWETAK ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS