Kiritimati Atoll

Kiritimati Atoll, or Christmas Island, one of the largest coral islands in the Pacific, covering 140 sq mi (360 sq km) and with a coastline of 80 mi (130 km). It is 1,300 mi (2,100 km) south of Honolulu. On Christmas Day, 1777, British explorer James Cook became the first European to reach the island. It was used for nuclear testing by both Britain and the United States. In 1979 it became part of the nation of Kiribati.