Walpole Island (French: Île de Walpole) is a small and uninhabited French island, 180 kilometres (95 nautical miles) east of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. Although it is geographically part of the Loyalty Islands, administratively it belongs to L'Île-des-Pins municipality of New Caledonia.
There is evidence that the island had prehistoric inhabitants. Graves, shell and bone tools, as well as stone markers indicate the presence of a permanent population at some point. The island is the topic of several oral traditions from Maré and the Île des Pines, the two closest inhabited islands. Speculation amongst the overseers of the Guano mining operation suggested that shipwreck or other castaways had also occupied the island.[1][2] British captain Butler is credited for discovery of the island in 1794 and he named it after his ship Walpole.[1]
From 1910 through 1936 guano was mined on the island and about 150,000 tonnes were exported to New Zealand.[1]
The island is only visited by scientific naturalist research missions.
Geographyedit
As the easternmost island of the Loyalty Islands arc, Walpole is located 180 km (95 nmi) east of New Caledonia (168° 57' E, 22° 36' S). It is 4 km (2+1⁄2 mi) long north–south, and 0.5–1 km (5⁄16–5⁄8 mi) wide with an area of about 2.0 km2 (3⁄4 sq mi).
Walpole is a coral island of volcanic origin. During the last glaciation cycles, the island was submerged and rose several times, creating a coral capping. The island is bordered by eroding cliffs. On the eastern shore is a narrow plain.[1] The island has no source of surface fresh water.
Walpole, windward east coast.
Walpole, leeward west coast.
Walpole, west coast, fallen coral blocks.
Walpole, leeward west coast, frigatebirds hovering.
^ abcdRenevier, Alain; Cherrier, Jean-Francois (1991). "Flore et vegetation de L'ile de Walpole". Atoll Research Bulletin (in French). 351: 1–21. doi:10.5479/si.00775630.351.1. ISSN 0077-5630. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
^Walpole, A “Mystery Island” in Southeast New Caledonia? by Christophe Sand, 2004
^"Walpole Island". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
walpole, island, caledonia, confused, with, walpole, island, first, nation, walpole, island, french, Île, walpole, small, uninhabited, french, island, kilometres, nautical, miles, east, caledonia, south, pacific, although, geographically, part, loyalty, island. Not to be confused with Walpole Island First Nation Walpole Island French Ile de Walpole is a small and uninhabited French island 180 kilometres 95 nautical miles east of New Caledonia in the South Pacific Although it is geographically part of the Loyalty Islands administratively it belongs to L Ile des Pins municipality of New Caledonia Walpole from the ISS US Nautical Chart 1901 Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Important Bird Area 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editThere is evidence that the island had prehistoric inhabitants Graves shell and bone tools as well as stone markers indicate the presence of a permanent population at some point The island is the topic of several oral traditions from Mare and the Ile des Pines the two closest inhabited islands Speculation amongst the overseers of the Guano mining operation suggested that shipwreck or other castaways had also occupied the island 1 2 British captain Butler is credited for discovery of the island in 1794 and he named it after his ship Walpole 1 From 1910 through 1936 guano was mined on the island and about 150 000 tonnes were exported to New Zealand 1 The island is only visited by scientific naturalist research missions Geography editAs the easternmost island of the Loyalty Islands arc Walpole is located 180 km 95 nmi east of New Caledonia 168 57 E 22 36 S It is 4 km 2 1 2 mi long north south and 0 5 1 km 5 16 5 8 mi wide with an area of about 2 0 km2 3 4 sq mi Walpole is a coral island of volcanic origin During the last glaciation cycles the island was submerged and rose several times creating a coral capping The island is bordered by eroding cliffs On the eastern shore is a narrow plain 1 The island has no source of surface fresh water nbsp Walpole windward east coast nbsp Walpole leeward west coast nbsp Walpole west coast fallen coral blocks nbsp Walpole leeward west coast frigatebirds hovering Important Bird Area editThe island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area IBA by BirdLife International because it supports breeding populations of brown boobiess red bellied fruit doves and Melanesian flycatchers 3 See also edit nbsp Islands portal Desert island List of islandsReferences edit a b c d Renevier Alain Cherrier Jean Francois 1991 Flore et vegetation de L ile de Walpole Atoll Research Bulletin in French 351 1 21 doi 10 5479 si 00775630 351 1 ISSN 0077 5630 Retrieved 7 October 2020 Walpole A Mystery Island in Southeast New Caledonia by Christophe Sand 2004 Walpole Island BirdLife Data Zone BirdLife International 2021 Retrieved 16 February 2021 22 36 S 168 57 E 22 600 S 168 950 E 22 600 168 950 nbsp This New Caledonian location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walpole Island New Caledonia amp oldid 1100457065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
