A vast coral atoll in the central Pacific, the largest atoll by land area in the world and the easternmost point of Kiribati.
Geography
Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, is the world’s largest coral atoll by surface area, though its land barely rises above sea level. A central lagoon and dozens of smaller lagoons cover much of the interior.
Nuclear Tests
The United Kingdom and the United States conducted atmospheric nuclear tests on and near Kiritimati from 1957 to 1962. Operation Grapple in 1957 included the United Kingdom’s first thermonuclear detonations.
Birds
The island supports vast seabird colonies, including sooty terns, brown noddies, and red-tailed tropicbirds. Cook Island within the lagoon is a protected wildlife sanctuary closed to visitors.
Find more islands by letter
Kiritimati starts with K and ends with I. Browse other islands along the same letter.
Islands that contain a letter from "Kiritimati":