Portal:Oceania/Selected article/April, 2008

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Swains Island is an atoll in the Tokelau chain, the most northwesterly island administered by American Samoa. Culturally a part of the Tokelau Islands, politically it is an unorganized territory of the United States of America. Swains Island has also been known at various times as Olosenga Island, Olohega Island, Quiros Island, Gente Hermosa Island, and Jennings Island.

Swains Island has a total area of 1.865 km², of which 1.508 km² (151 ha) is land. The central lagoon accounts for the balance of 0.358 km². There is a small islet of 764 m² in the eastern part of the lagoon. The population was 37 in 2005, all located in the village of Talauga on the island's west side.

The atoll is somewhat unusual, featuring an unbroken circle of land enclosing a freshwater lagoon cut off from the sea. Drinking water on Swains is derived entirely from rainfall collected in two large mahogany tanks near the island's copra shed.