Christmas Island History Facts

The christmas island shire council is popularly elected to one year terms.

Christmas island history facts. Christmas island has a fascinating history and culture which has formed a unique community architecture and landscape. Christmas island officially territory of christmas island island in the indian ocean about 224 miles 360 km south of the island of java and 870 miles 1 400 km northwest of australia that is administered as an external territory of australia the island is the summit of an oceanic mountain whose highest point on the island is murray hill rising to 1 184 feet 361 metres in the western. The population of christmas island is approximately 1 300 and inhabitants speak a mix of english chinese and malay. You are encouraged to try authentic local experiences through food celebrations and joining in with community regular and special occasions.

It s a story of two men george clunies ross and john murray and their quest to reap the. Christmas island is a small island territory of australia covering 135 square miles 350 sq. Take a look at these 23 interesting facts about christmas island. Km in the indian ocean.

It was the discovery of phosphate in 1888 which was to guide the island s destiny for the next century. Kiritimati or christmas island is a pacific ocean coral atoll in the northern line islands it is part of the republic of kiribati its gilbertese name is the rendition of the english word christmas according to its phonology in which the combination ti is pronounced s and the name is thus pronounced k i ˈ r ɪ s m æ s. To witness the majestic sights and social intricacies of this. Captain william mynors of the royal mary an english east india company vessel named the island when he sailed past it on christmas day in 1643.

The island has the greatest land area of any coral atoll in the. Its nearest neighbours are indonesia to the north and east australia to the south and cocos keeling islands to the west. First discovered in 1643 christmas island has a history. The island was included on english and dutch navigation charts as early as the beginning of the 17th century but it was not.

The first european to sight the island was richard rowe of the thomas in 1615. Christmas island is administered by australia under the australian department of the environment sport and territories. Geographical stats christmas island is a small australian territory in the indian ocean. Looking to boost your knowledge of the world.