Namonuito Atoll

Namonuito

Location of Namonuito Atoll in the Pacific Ocean

Coordinates: 08°40′00″N 150°00′00″E / 8.6666667°N 150°E / 8.6666667; 150 Namonuito Atoll, also called Namonweito, Weito, or Magur Islands, is the largest atoll of the Federated States of Micronesia and of the Caroline Islands, with a total area of 2267 km², unless one considers the still larger Truk Lagoon as a type of atoll in an early stage of development. In Micronesia, only Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands is larger.

Namonuito Atoll lies in the northwestern region (Oksoritod) of Chuuk State, the largest federal State of the Federated States of Micronesia, about 170 km northeast of Truk Lagoon (measured from Pisaras Islet to the northern and western parts of the fringing reef of Truk Lagoon). It is roughly triangular in shape, with the base running 82 km along its southern side. The southwest corner of the triangle is marked by Ulul islet, the main island (largest and most populated), also called Onoun. The other islets lie mostly on the northeast side, from Pisaras islet in the southeast corner to Magur (Makur) islet in the north corner. The 12 islets have an aggregate land area of only 4.5 km². The total population is 1.341 (census of 2000).

The reef rim of the atoll is submerged for the greater part and is marked by the lighter color of the water over it. The depths on the reef range from 0.9 to 18.3 meters. The reef appears to be in the process of formation and can be crossed at many places. The lagoon is not of uniform depth. Except for a 5.5 meter patch, located 22 km west of Pisaras island, and a detached reef, with depths of 2.7 to 3.7 meters, located about 10 km of Pisaras, there appears to be no less than 9 meters on the scattered coral heads.

Pisaras Island has coconut palms and other trees growing on it. Reefs extend northwest and WNW from the island, enclosing a shallow and foul bay. Ulul Island is densely covered with coconut palms. A drying reef fringes the island. There is a radio station on the island.

The atoll is home to five of the 40 municipalities of Chuuk state, listed in counterclockwise sequence, with population (2000):

Landsat visible color image
Municipality	alternate or former name	Land area km²	Population (census 2000)	location	islands	coordinates
Onoun	Ulul	2.54	598	southwest corner	Ulul Island	08°35′22″N 149°39′37″E / 8.58944°N 149.66028°E / 8.58944; 149.66028
Piherararh	Pisaras	0.80	227	southeast corner	Wabonoru Islet Pisaras Island Pielimal Islet Weltot Islet	08°35′50″N 150°21′18″E / 8.59722°N 150.355°E / 8.59722; 150.355 08°34′55″N 150°24′26″E / 8.58194°N 150.40722°E / 8.58194; 150.40722 08°36′50″N 150°22′38″E / 8.61389°N 150.37722°E / 8.61389; 150.37722 08°37′15″N 150°22′16″E / 8.62083°N 150.37111°E / 8.62083; 150.37111
Unanu	Onari	0.26	178	northeast rim	Onari Island Bihof Islet Behiliper Islet Amurtride Islet	08°45′11″N 150°19′46″E / 8.75306°N 150.32944°E / 8.75306; 150.32944 08°45′43″N 150°19′24″E / 8.76194°N 150.32333°E / 8.76194; 150.32333 08°46′03″N 150°19′02″E / 8.7675°N 150.31722°E / 8.7675; 150.31722 08°46′10″N 150°18′47″E / 8.76944°N 150.31306°E / 8.76944; 150.31306
Onou	Ono	0.31	182	northeast rim	Ono Island	08°47′52″N 150°16′58″E / 8.79778°N 150.28278°E / 8.79778; 150.28278
Makur	Magur Islands	0.47	156	north corner	Magur Island Magererik Islet	08°59′27″N 150°07′22″E / 8.99083°N 150.12278°E / 8.99083; 150.12278 08°57′24″N 150°03′53″E / 8.95667°N 150.06472°E / 8.95667; 150.06472
Namonuito Atoll	Magur Islands	4.38	1,341			08°40′00″N 150°00′00″E / 8.6666667°N 150°E / 8.6666667; 150

External links

• Sailing Directions (enroute), page 263
• exact islet coordinates
• historic census data, population densities

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