Teraina
- ISS007-E-14781
- 11 September 2003
- 19:28 UTC
Teraina (also Washington Island) is a low-lying coral island with an area of 14.2 km² located in the northern Line Islands 150 km northwest from the atoll of Tabuaeran. It is the northernmost member of the three permanently inhabited islands among the Line Islands chain. The island measure 7.5 km in length and 2.5 km in width.
The island is unique among the Line Islands for its freshwater lake of about 2 km² in area and its surrounding marshlands. These freshwater environments — that occupy the area where a lagoon was once located — are considered as an outstanding biological resource. The lake has a maximum depth of around 10 m, although typical depths are typically far shallower; its waters are turbid and appear as dark brown in the above image. Also found on the island are some areas of peat bogs and swampy woodland — in stark contrast to some of the drier Line Islands to the south such as Malden and Starbuck. The island is surrounded by a fringing reef that is generally narrow, but extends for up to 500 m off the eastern shore — features which make access to the island difficult.
The island is home to Kuhl's lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) — an endangered parrot — Teraina being the only location with a substantial population, with more than 1,000 birds. Teraina is an important seabird breeding site, with about 10 breeding species, the most abundant being the Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) and the White Tern (Gygis alba).
Synonyms: Washington Island
image: earth sciences and image analysis laboratory, nasa johnson space center.
