Wake Island Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
coral atoll in the North Pacific Ocean administered by the US and also claimed by the Marshall Islands
About Wake Island
"Wake Island" is an atoll of three islands: Wake itself is V-shaped; Wilkes and Peale Islands are extensions of the legs of that V, separated from Wake by narrow channels. They surround a shallow lagoon (the crater of the volcano that spawned the atoll), and are themselves surrounded by a coral reef. The highest point is only20ft (6.1m)above sea level. The islands cover about12.5sqmi (32km), with a coastline of122mi (196km). The island's airfield, including a runway running the length of the southern leg of the V, covers a substantial percentage of the land area. The island was first discovered in 1568 by a Spanish explorer who named it "San Francisco". A British ship captained by Samuel Wake re-discovered it in 1796;hisname actuallystuck. The 1840 United States Exploring Expedition
Wake Island Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: