Satawan
Encyclopedia
Satawan Atoll is part of the Mortlock Islands
in the Caroline Islands
, administratively part of Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia
. Captain James Mortlock discovered two sets of islands on 19 and 27 November 1795. Confusingly, both were later called Mortlock Islands. A Japanese
airfield was located on the atoll during World War II
.
Satawan Atoll administratively consists of four of the 40 municipalities of Chuuk State, named after the principal islets:
Satowan and Ta municipalities are statistically grouped with the "Lower Mortlocks", and Kuttu and Moch municipalities with the "Mid Mortlocks".
Satawan Atoll had a population of 2,935 as of the 2000 census
. Satawan Atoll is located at 5.30°N 153.70°E and has a total area of 419 km² (including the lagoon
), but a land area of 4.6 km² only.
During World War II
the Japanese garrison
on the Mortlock Islands, under the command of Colonel Masatake Tobita, consisted of 753 IJA
men including a company of six medium tanks and 257 IJN
men including air base crew. Some World War II relics left by the Japanese can be found on Satawan. These include tanks (which may be seen on the main road), a few small planes, (the island was at one point home to a Japanese airstrip), and stone look-out posts along the north east coast. One can walk from Satawan to Ta via the reef at low tide. Near the end that is towards the island called Ta is a large cannon left over from the Japanese that points out into the ocean. There are an elementary school and a high school that serve the islanders. There is no electricity, running water or communication (other than one CB radio that can reach as far as Chuuk). Until May 2010, the only transportation to this island was a fishing boat carrying freight called the Nomasepi. About once a month it did a six day circuit around the Mortlocks from Weno, but for now has been stopped. The cost of the six day round trip was 40 dollars. Each island has its own local constitution which currently allows for a Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The only taxes are a 5 dollar fee per year for owning a dog. According to local estimates as of May 2010, the population is between 400 and 700.
Mortlock Islands
The name Mortlock Islands can refer to:*Satawan , at in the Caroline Islands, Federated States of Micronesia*Takuu, a Polynesian outlier atoll at , northeast of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea...
in the Caroline Islands
Caroline Islands
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end...
, administratively part of Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
. Captain James Mortlock discovered two sets of islands on 19 and 27 November 1795. Confusingly, both were later called Mortlock Islands. A Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
airfield was located on the atoll during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Satawan Atoll administratively consists of four of the 40 municipalities of Chuuk State, named after the principal islets:
- Satowan (Satawan) (east)
- Ta (south)
- Kuttu (Kutu) (west)
- Moch (More) (north)
Satowan and Ta municipalities are statistically grouped with the "Lower Mortlocks", and Kuttu and Moch municipalities with the "Mid Mortlocks".
Satawan Atoll had a population of 2,935 as of the 2000 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
. Satawan Atoll is located at 5.30°N 153.70°E and has a total area of 419 km² (including the lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
), but a land area of 4.6 km² only.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Japanese garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
on the Mortlock Islands, under the command of Colonel Masatake Tobita, consisted of 753 IJA
IJA
IJA can refer to:* Imperial Japanese Army* International Jugglers' Association* International Jousting Association* Instituto Justo Arosemena* The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology* International Judges Association* Empress Ija...
men including a company of six medium tanks and 257 IJN
IJN
The abbreviation IJN may refer to:* International Justice Network or IJNetwork, a Human Rights Organization* Imperial Japanese Navy, the navy of Japan from 1868 until it was dissolved in 1947* Institut Jean Nicod, a French interdisciplinary research center...
men including air base crew. Some World War II relics left by the Japanese can be found on Satawan. These include tanks (which may be seen on the main road), a few small planes, (the island was at one point home to a Japanese airstrip), and stone look-out posts along the north east coast. One can walk from Satawan to Ta via the reef at low tide. Near the end that is towards the island called Ta is a large cannon left over from the Japanese that points out into the ocean. There are an elementary school and a high school that serve the islanders. There is no electricity, running water or communication (other than one CB radio that can reach as far as Chuuk). Until May 2010, the only transportation to this island was a fishing boat carrying freight called the Nomasepi. About once a month it did a six day circuit around the Mortlocks from Weno, but for now has been stopped. The cost of the six day round trip was 40 dollars. Each island has its own local constitution which currently allows for a Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The only taxes are a 5 dollar fee per year for owning a dog. According to local estimates as of May 2010, the population is between 400 and 700.
External links
- Mortlock Islands - the two distinct island groups named "Mortlock Islands"