Maloelap

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Maloelap
NASA image of Maloelap (center, left Aur)
NASA image of Maloelap (center, left Aur )
Waters Pacific Ocean
archipelago Marshall Islands
Geographical location 8 ° 45 ′  N , 171 ° 4 ′  E Coordinates: 8 ° 45 ′  N , 171 ° 4 ′  E
Maloelap (Marshall Islands)
Maloelap
Number of islands 75
Main island Tao
Land area 9.82 km²
Lagoon area 973 km²
Residents 682 (2011)
Template: Infobox Atoll / Maintenance / HoeheFehlt

Maloelap ( Marshallese Ṃaḷoeḷap ) is an atoll in the Ratak chain of the Marshall Islands . The atoll has a land area of ​​9.8 km² with a lagoon area of ​​973 km². The three largest islands in the atoll are called Taroa and Knaben in the north of the island. Only three islands in the atoll are uninhabited , Airok , Ollet and Jang . The atoll was the first to endorse the Marshall Islands constitution as a state. The atoll Aur, 15 km south, is closest.

In 2011, 682 people lived on the atoll. The production of copra and tourism are of little economic importance for the atoll .

On the island of Tao (also Tarawa or Taroa ) there is an airfield ( IATA airport code : MAV ) which was created by the Japanese around 1930. This easternmost Japanese military airfield was heavily bombed by the Americans during the Second World War until it was completely destroyed in 1944. Aircraft wrecks and remains of airfield facilities still bear witness to the heavy attacks.

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