
Introduction.
Taongi is located at 14.38 north latitude and
168.58 east longitude lying within the Northeast Trades, thus there are
steady winds from the northeast bringing mostly fair weather from November
through June. The rainy season is from July to November and has a great
deal of fair weather but the trades weaken and come from the east. Total
yearly rainfall is estimated at about 45 inches. Typhoons (known elsewhere
as hurricanes or cyclones) seldom originate in or pass over this area and
gales are infrequent coming from the southeast when they occur. There is
little variation in temperature throughout the year with a minimum of 71
degrees F and maximum of 98 degrees F, a high mean temperature of 83 degrees
F and a low mean of 81 degrees F.
The southeast "ratak" or sunrise side of Taongi
Atoll has the vegetation covered islands that remain as high as 20 feet
above sea level which is two times the elevation of the capital of the
Marshall Islands, Majuro Atoll, some 425 miles south of Taongi. The small
islands of Taongi, the longest, at least 5 miles in length, are part of
the coral reef that surrounds the central lagoon of 30 square miles.
These
reefs are in the form of a fat comma opening to the west on which side
exists the only break in the reef where a boat may pass safely into the
lagoon. Made up of the skeletal remains of countless small marine plants
and animals that found a home on this formerly volcanic island or sea mountain,
the reef has gradually built up as sea level changed, or the islands subsided,
and now provide land area of 1.25 square miles for tall trees and breeding
grounds for migratory birds and turtles.
While
few forms of wildlife occupy the land, marine
life in the lagoon and the surrounding ocean are abundant. The lagoon
to be beautiful with sandy beaches and, with the tide going out, waterfalls
miles long were formed by the water flowing over the reef. The beach pictured
to the right is typical of those on the lagoon side of the Taongi Islands.
There
are at least 500 acres of real estate ready for development under the administration
of the Dominion of Melchizedek.
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