Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Midway Atoll - USA

I can proudly say that I've all the UNESCO sites from USA. I was missing 2 sites and I finally got them. Judy helped me with this Great Frigate card from the Midway Atoll, located within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Papahānaumokuākea was classified as UNESCO WHS in 2010. 

On the back of the card: A male Great Frigate bird creates quite a sight as it flies over Midway Atoll. The male Great Frigate bird uses it's balloon-like gular sac to attract a mate. Frigate birds are frequently seen trying to steal food from tropic birds and boobies as they return to the atoll. 

Photographer: Pete Leary
Located on the far northern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, Midway Atoll is one the oldest atoll formations in the world that provides nesting habitat for millions of seabirds and it a touchstone for one of the most significant naval battles in our human history.
Nearly three million birds nest much of each year nest on Pihemanu (Hawaiian place name for Midway meaning loud din of birds) including the world's largest population of albatrosses, Bonin petrels and endangered Laysan ducks. Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles and spinner dolphins frequent Midway's crystal blue lagoon encircled by coral.
Midway became an "overlay" refuge in 1988, while still under the primary jurisdiction of the Navy. With the closure of Naval Air Facility Midway Island in 1993, there began a transition in mission from national defense to wildlife conservation.  In 1996 full jurisdiction was given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 
Midway is one of the most remote coral atolls on earth.  However, because of the position of its remote location in the Pacific its became a strategic oasis for international communication, travel and defense operations.  - in: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Midway_Atoll/about.html

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