Starbuck Island

Starbuck Island, South Pacific island. This coral island, covering about 1 sq mi (2.6 sq km), claims no human population. Guano, a natural material used in fertilizer, was mined off this island until the resource was depleted (1870–1920). Starbuck Island is located 2,000 mi (3,000 km) south of Hawaii. Now part of the country of Kiribati (1979), it was formally discovered (1823) and appropriated (1866) by Britain.

See also: Kiribati.