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Mokil Atoll

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Mokil Atoll
Mwoakilloa
Satellite image of Mokil Atoll
Map of Mokil Atoll
Geography
LocationNorth Pacific
Coordinates6°40′N 159°46′E / 6.667°N 159.767°E / 6.667; 159.767
ArchipelagoCaroline
Total islands3
Area1.24 km2 (0.48 sq mi)
Administration
StatePohnpei
Demographics
Population147 (2008)
Ethnic groupsMokilese
Flag of the municipality of Mwoakilloa

Mwoakilloa (or Mokil previously named Wellington Island or Duperrey Island, after Louis Isidore Duperrey) is an inhabited atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. Geographically, it belongs to the Caroline Islands and is a municipality of the outlying islands of Pohnpei State of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Mwoakilloa lies 153 kilometres east of Pohnpei and approximately 113 kilometres northwest of Pingelap. The almost-rectangular atoll is 4.5 kilometres long and 2.8 kilometres broad. The atoll consists of the three islands Uhrek, Kahlap (Capitol), and Mwandohn, forming a central lagoon of approximately 2 square kilometres in area. Only the northeast island Kahlap is inhabited, with the town facing the lagoon. The total area of all islands is approximately 1.24 square kilometres.

The population of Mwoakilloa decreased from 177 in 2000[1] to 147 in 2008. The inhabitants speak Mokilese — similar to the Pohnpeian language in the family of Micronesian languages.

The name "Wellington Island" comes from the vessel Marquis of Wellington, whose captain named the island after his vessel. The Marquis of Wellington was on her way to China, having transported 200 or so convicts to Port Jackson, Australia, from Britain.

Transportation

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Mokil Atoll Airfield
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment
OperatorCivil Government
ServesKahlap
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
1,200 370 Concrete
A resident of Mokil Atoll waves to the C-130 crew after receiving an air dropped aid package during Operation Christmas Drop, 2012.

Mokil Airfield is located on the southern end of Kahlap with a 1,200 feet (370 m) runway.[2] The airfield offers no service and used by chartered flights by Caroline Islands Air.

References

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  1. ^ Pohnpei Census 2000 (PDF)
  2. ^ "Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Division of Civil Aviation | Mwoakilloa (Mokil) Civil Airfield, Mwoakilloa Atoll, Micronesia".
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