Palmyra Atoll is among the most isolated island systems in the world. This tiny central Pacific atoll is a complex of small islands and islets encircling a system of three lagoons and surrounded by more than 16,000 acres of coral reef systems. Although the islands have never supported any permanent settlements, Palmyra’s terrestrial and lagoonal habitats have been dramatically modified by people, especially during the Second World War. Even so, the combination of its location, isolation, rich biological systems, and lack of persistent human pressures make Palmyra Atoll an exceptional and unique location for a wide range of research pertaining to biodiversity, conservation, natural history, ecosystem restoration, marine ecosystem dynamics, biogeochemistry, climate dynamics, and atmospheric processes. Scientists and institutions interested in studying the natural systems of Palmyra Atoll and its surrounding region have united to form a partnership, the Palmyra Atoll Research Consortium (PARC).
To learn more about the interesting history of Palmyra Atoll, visit The Nature Conservancy’s, Living Archipelagos, or Wikipedia's pages on Palmyra Atoll.