Laysan ( Eng. Laysan , Gav. Kauō ) - a small uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean as part of the Northwest Islands of the Hawaiian archipelago . Administratively part of the state of Hawaii .
| Lysan | |
|---|---|
| English Laysan | |
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Square | 4,114 km² |
| Highest point | 12 m |
| Population | 0 pax (2017) |
| Location | |
| Archipelago | Hawaiian Islands |
| Water area | Pacific Ocean |
| A country |
|
| State | Hawaii |
Content
Geography
Geographically, the island is located in the center of the Northwest Islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, about 215 km east of Lisyansky Island and 375 km southeast of the island are Gardner Rocks . The land area of Laysan is 4.114 km² [1] . The highest point of the island is located at an altitude of 12 m above sea level. Laysan is the second largest island of the Northwest Islands after Midway . The average land height that surrounds the central lagoon is 2.4 m. The lagoon is above sea level [2] . Lysan is surrounded by coral reefs .
The island is of volcanic origin.
Fauna
The island is home to a very large number of seabirds . Five endemic species of birds once inhabited Laysan, however, due to vigorous human activity on the island, three endemic species disappeared in the past: lat. Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris , Porzana palmeri , lat. Himatione sanguinea freethi [3] . The surviving species of endemic birds are Anas laysanensis and Telespiza cantans . [2]
History
Laysan Island was discovered on March 12, 1828 by a Russian expedition led by Mikhail Nikolayevich Stanyukovich , who named it Moller Island (in honor of his ship) [4] . Although it is likely that before this discovery the island was visited by Polynesians [5] . In 1857, the island was annexed by King of Hawaii Kamehameha IV .
In 1890, Laysan was leased by the Hawaiian Kingdom to the North Pacific Phosphate and Fertilizer Company , which mined guano from 1892 to 1904 (the island was inhabited at that time). The most famous resident of the island of that period was Max Schlemmer ( Eng. Max Schlemmer ), who was also known as the “ King of Lysan ” [6] . In 1896, he acquired the right to rent the island, which he subsequently sold to the Japanese from Tokyo, Genkichi Yamanouchi. The Japanese exported not only guano, but also bird feathers from Lysan. On February 3, 1909, the island became part of a bird reservation, and in 2006 - part of the Papahanaumokuakea nature monument ( English Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument ).
Gallery
Notes
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, Laysan Island: Blocks 1013, Census Tract 114.98, Honolulu County, Hawaii. (eng.)
- ↑ 1 2 NWHI Multi-Agency Education Project: about Laysan Island. (English) (inaccessible link) . Archived February 4, 2012.
- ↑ Tanager-Expedition. (English) (inaccessible link) . Archived January 17, 2006.
- ↑ Jane's Oceania Page - Laysan Island. (eng.)
- ↑ Honolulu Advertiser “Coconut pollen found on Laysan”, Monday, May 23, 2005, p. B1-2. (eng.)
- ↑ NWHI Multi-Agency Education Project: “The King of Laysan” (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment January 27, 2008. Archived September 27, 2007.