Baffle Rock Island is a coral atoll located in the central Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Nauru group of islands, and is 55 km long, 25 km wide, has a total land area of about 1.4 km2, and a population of around 50 people. The island was first explored by Europeans in 1823 and charted by Captain James Cook in 1774.
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Baffle Rock Island
Baffle Rock is a coral island in the Pacific Ocean northeast of Nauru, about 9 km long and 2.8 km wide. It lies 160 islands southeast of Conspicuous Reef (Paluma) to which it adjoins from starboard by two sand banks; there are two passages between them at low tide (creeks), one overtopping Baffle channel and the other Small-pit channel or bay (“sic”, “plentiful in fruit”, according to Cook) separating the islands of Baskas and Miniot (formerly Sandwich). The island was named by John Kendrick for some bays or corners observed there; it is about 6.5 km off-northwest from cape Tamarao on Nauru, at 15°01′S 119°29′E “alng n’arung”
The island’s almost barren condition pre cludes all ordinary methods of cultivation, and the only inhabitants are Nauruan fishermen who land their canoes there to fish.
The island is now uninhabited as it was almost completely destroyed during World War Two because of its proximity to Japan-held islands around which American air-raids targeted Japanese maritime activity in 1943 and 1944.
The island had an airstrip on which aircraft could be easily delivered by ship for bombardment or photographic reconnaissance missions against.
Exploration Of Baffle Rock Island By Europeans In 1823
Baffle Rock was first visited by Europeans on 22 February 1823 when Captain Phillip Parker King of the Discovery, with his crew of Cook’s third expedition (as the ship had been captured in Oceania) anchored at cape Denarau.
Finding there “no water or anchorage” they sailed on to make island-hopping survey trips to Norfolk Island before turning back through Bass Strait.
The islands that were partly sighted included both now -recognised Queensland islands of Cape Flattery and Brampton island, the “Isloas” or islands which were first seen in his charts as Kap Ho.
The island was renamed by Captain King honourably for Peter Colquhoun (1774-1821) who had come to Australia with Francis Cadell aboard the ship Friendship in 1819 while they went northward from Sydney en route via Norfolk Island to Canton on their voyage.
Geography And Topography Of Baffle Rock Island
Baffle Rock island, which is the easternmost of Cape York Peninsula’s islands, has a maximum altitude of 2 m above sea level and an irregular-shaped land area. Its near-pristine appearance precludes all ordinary methods of cultivation; neither man nor beast live there. The only inhabitants are Nauruan fishermen who sometimes land their canoes at cape Lankear, offshore to fish in nearby Badu spawning grounds There is no population even.
Economy And Politics Of Baffle Rock Island
Baffle Rock island has been totally uninhabited since the early 19th century. The inhabitants of cape Lankear, who are descendants of Nauruan sailors and traders, chose to move back to their home islands after they built a settlement on cape Flattery at Cape York Peninsula in 1991-1992.
A small number of nomadic fishermen remain hoping that some day someone will come ashore so they can set up temporary trading posts with their fellow villagers along cape Flattery.
They are of the opinion that cape Lankear is being used as a refuge for criminals, perhaps island of origin of serial killer Margaret Clayton and her lover-murderer Peter Falconio who were allegedly plotting to abduct two Tasmanian schoolgirls from there on Friday September 19th 2001 with the planned robbery/murder by planting explosives in their backpacks scheduled for examination at Rotorua National Park Scenic Reserve Laboratory near.
Conclusion
Baffle Rock Island is a limestone island located in the middle of the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illinois. It is part of the city of Rock Island and has been used as an island for recreational purposes since the early 1800s.
The island was originally connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus at its eastern end, but this was gradually filled in by sediment over time. Today, the island is only connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land that is sometimes submerged during high water levels.
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