Maloelap Atoll
Maloelap Atoll is one of the largest atolls in the Marshall Islands consisting of 71 islands with a total area of 9.8 km². It is located in the Rataka chain slightly north of Majuro. Its main islets (Eiruk, Jang, Kaven, Tarwa and Walot) are located on a continuous strip of reef around a beautiful lagoon covering 973 km² (the fourth largest lagoon in the Marshall Islands). Only the western side of the lagoon is broken by several channels and passageways in the reef wall, making the atoll an excellent anchorage.
General information
The island was the main Japanese air base in the eastern Marshall Islands during World War II, so today it is the rusting relics of the war that most tourists come here to see. Throughout the atoll you can find numerous hulks of Zero fighters and Betty bombers, an airfield, anti-aircraft positions and even a few well-preserved howitzers. Most of the relics of that war are hidden under the thick canopy of the jungle, but the islanders are happy to conduct tours of the sites of the battles and discovered weapons. Right in front of the beach of Taroa Lagoon, in shallow water, still lies the Japanese cargo ship Toroshima-Maru, sunk by American bombers. And the waters of the lagoon and reefs are home to a vast array of wildlife, making for excellent diving and snorkeling conditions.
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15 km south of Maloelap (120 km north of Majuro) lies the small atoll of Ur (Aur), consisting of the islands of Tabal, Ur, Bigen and 39 small islets, which have a total area of 5.6 square kilometers. The lagoon surrounding them is deep (over 80 meters) and has an area of about 240 square kilometers.
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This atoll is quite traditional and is considered one of the best places in the archipelago to experience the traditions of the islanders. Almost all the traditional crafts and activities practiced today on Ura are a complete replica of the age-old skills of the Sea Peoples. The locals specialize in creating traditional canoes and large panel wall carpets made from palm leaves, seaweed and shells. The beautiful lagoon of Ur provides excellent diving conditions, with a wide variety of tropical fish and coral, and turtles and small sharks are the most common inhabitants.
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Not far from Ur are the atolls of Bikar and Taongi (Bokaak), which are actively preparing for World Heritage National Park status. The latter is perhaps the only example of a completely natural, unaltered by humans semi-arid coral atoll ecosystem. Bikar has a particularly large population of green sea turtles.
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