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Coordinates: 18°04′S 163°10′W / 18.067°S 163.167°W / -18.067; -163.167
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[[File:Palmerston ISS006.jpg|250x|right|thumb|Satellite view of Palmerston]]
[[File:Palmerston ISS006.jpg|250x|right|thumb|Satellite view of Palmerston]]
[[Image:Palmerston1.png|250x|right|thumb|Map Palmerston]]
[[Image:Palmerston1.png|250x|right|thumb|Map Palmerston]]
'''Palmerston Island''' is a [[coral atoll]] in the [[Cook Islands]] in the [[Pacific Ocean]] about 500 km northwest of [[Rarotonga]]. It was discovered by [[James Cook]] on 16 June 1774.
'''Palmerston Island''' is a [[coral atoll]] in the [[Cook Islands]] in the [[Pacific Ocean]] about 500&nbsp;km northwest of [[Rarotonga]].<ref name="Geography">{{cite web | url=http://www.palmerstonisland.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=75&Itemid=411 | title=Geography | publisher=Palmerston Island | date=15 September 2013 | accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref> It was discovered by [[James Cook]] on 16 June 1774.<ref name="History">{{cite web | url=http://www.palmerstonisland.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=76&Itemid=414 | title=History | publisher=Palmerston Island | date=15 September 2013 | accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref>


==Overview==
==Overview==
A true atoll, Palmerston Island consists of a number of sandy islets on a continuous ring of [[coral reef]] enclosing a [[lagoon]]. The largest of the islets include Palmerston, North Island, Lee To Us, Leicester, Primrose, Toms, and Cooks. The total land area of the islets is approximately one square mile (2.6&nbsp;km²). The coral reef covers about 3,600 acres (15&nbsp;km²). The [[lagoon]] is some seven miles (11&nbsp;km) across, covering an area of 56&nbsp;km². There are several small passages through the reef for [[boats]], though there is no safe entry for large [[ships]]. At a latitude of [[18th parallel south|18 degrees south]], Palmerston enjoys a [[tropical]] [[climate]] but is exposed to severe [[tropical cyclone]]s. A particularly destructive series of storms occurred during the 1920s and 1930s.
A true atoll, Palmerston Island consists of a number of sandy islets on a continuous ring of [[coral reef]] enclosing a [[lagoon]]. The largest of the islets include Palmerston, North Island, Lee To Us, Leicester, Primrose, Toms, and Cooks. The total land area of the islets is approximately one square mile (2.6&nbsp;km²). The coral reef covers about 3,600 acres (15&nbsp;km²). The [[lagoon]] is some seven miles (11&nbsp;km) across, covering an area of 56&nbsp;km². There are several small passages through the reef for [[boats]], though there is no safe entry for large [[ships]]. At a latitude of [[18th parallel south|18 degrees south]], Palmerston enjoys a [[tropical]] [[climate]] but is exposed to severe [[tropical cyclone]]s. A particularly destructive series of storms occurred during the 1920s and 1930s.


All the islets are wooded with [[coconut]] palms, [[pandanus]], and native [[tree]]s. There is some natural ground water on Palmerston but water captured from rainfall is preferred for drinking. [[Shellfish]] inhabit the reef, and [[fish]] are abundant although there are concerns about [[overfishing]]. The population consists of approximately sixty inhabitants, all but three <ref>The Island at the End of the Earth http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25430382 BBC 23 December 2013</ref> descended from an [[Englishman]] named [[William Marsters]] (see history, below). The economy is based on [[fishing]], [[tourism]], [[copra]], and [[feather|bird feathers]], though Palmerston’s extreme remoteness makes a [[cash]] [[market]] difficult to maintain. [[Electricity]] and other modern utilities are available on the island. A recently built [[telephone]] station provides the only permanent link to the outside world. The island has no [[airport]] or regular [[air travel|air service]], but cargo ships visit a few times a year.
All the islets are wooded with [[coconut]] palms, [[pandanus]], and native [[tree]]s. There is some natural ground water on Palmerston but water captured from rainfall is preferred for drinking. [[Shellfish]] inhabit the reef, and [[fish]] are abundant although there are concerns about [[overfishing]]. The population consists of approximately sixty inhabitants, all but three<ref name= Martienssen>{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25430383 | title=Palmerston: The island at the end of the earth | work=[[BBC News]] | date=30 December 2013 | accessdate=30 December 2013 | author=Martienssen, Thomas}}</ref>descended from an [[Englishman]] named [[William Marsters]] (see ''History'', below). The economy is based on [[fishing]], [[tourism]], [[copra]], and [[feather|bird feathers]], though Palmerston’s extreme remoteness makes a [[cash]] [[market]] difficult to maintain. [[Electricity]] and other modern utilities are available on the island. A recently built [[telephone]] station provides the only permanent link to the outside world. The island has no [[airport]] or regular [[air travel|air service]], but cargo ships visit a few times a year.<ref name= Martienssen/>


==History==
==History==
Palmerston was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774, but he did not land on the island until 13 April 1777. He found it uninhabited, though some ancient graves were discovered. Cook named the island after [[Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston]], then Lord of the [[Admiralty]]. The ancient name of the island was supposedly ''Avarau'', meaning “two hundred harbour entrances.” In 1863 [[William Marsters]], a ship's [[carpenter]] and [[cooper (profession)|barrel maker]], arrived on Palmerston from [[Manuae (Cook Islands)|Manuae]] with two [[Polynesia]]n wives and annexed the island from the [[British government]]. He added a 'third wife' and sired a large family of some 23 children, whose descendants now inhabit Palmerston. Thus, Palmerston Island is the only island in the Cook Islands for which English is the native language.
Palmerston was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774, but he did not land on the island until 13 April 1777. He found it uninhabited, though some ancient graves were discovered.<ref name="History"/> Cook named the island after [[Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston]], then Lord of the [[Admiralty]].<ref name="History"/> The ancient name of the island was supposedly ''Avarau'', meaning "two hundred harbour entrances".<ref name="History"/> In 1863 [[William Marsters]], a ship's [[carpenter]] and [[cooper (profession)|barrel maker]], arrived on Palmerston from [[Manuae (Cook Islands)|Manuae]] with two [[Polynesia]]n wives and annexed the island from the [[British government]]. He added a third "wife" and sired a large family of some 23 children, whose descendants now inhabit Palmerston. Thus, Palmerston Island is the only island in the Cook Islands for which English is the native language.

''William Masters'', originally thought to have come from [[Leicestershire]], England, is now thought to have come from [[Gloucestershire]], which might explain why his descendants now spell the name "Marsters" due to the Gloucestershire accent.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/1905571/The-slice-of-paradise-with-a-West-Country-lilt.html The slice of paradise with a West Country lilt - Telegraph<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> By the time his youngest daughter Titana Tangi died in 1973, there were over a thousand Marsters descendants living in [[Rarotonga]] and [[New Zealand]]. Though only some fifty family members remain on Palmerston, all Marsters descendants consider the island their ancestral home. In 1954 the family was granted full ownership of the island. Three branches of the family remain on Palmerston, each branch being descended from one of Williams 'three wives', [[marriage]] within a family group is prohibited.<ref name="telegraph">Alleyne, Richard:"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/29/watoll129.xml 'Islanders speak with a West Country accent']"''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'',April 29, 2008.</ref> Palmerston is now administered by the Cook Islands government in association with New Zealand.
''William Masters'', originally thought to have come from [[Leicestershire]], England, is now thought to have come from [[Gloucestershire]], which might explain why his descendants now spell the name "Marsters" due to the Gloucestershire accent.<ref name="Lilt">{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25430383 | title=The slice of paradise with a West Country lilt | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=28 April 2008 | accessdate=30 December 2013 | author=Alleyne, Richard and Savill, Richard | location=London}}</ref> By the time his youngest daughter Titana Tangi died in 1973, there were over a thousand Marsters descendants living in [[Rarotonga]] and [[New Zealand]]. Though only some fifty family members remain on Palmerston, all Marsters descendants consider the island their ancestral home. In 1954 the family was granted full ownership of the island. Three branches of the family remain on Palmerston, each branch being descended from one of Williams three "wives", [[marriage]] within a family group being prohibited.<ref name="Lilt"/>

==Governance==
Palmerston is administered by the Cook Islands government, through the Palmerston Island Administration (PIA),<ref name="Governance">{{cite web | url=http://www.palmerstonisland.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=69&Itemid=102 | title=Governance | publisher=Palmerston Island | work=General Information | accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref> in association with New Zealand.

The Island's Council consists of six members, the three heads of each family and three other members appointed by each family.<ref name="Governance"/> The Mayor is Bob Marsters.<ref name="Governance"/>


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
{{commonscat}}
* [http://www.palmerstonisland.net/ Official website]
* [http://www.cookislands.org.uk/palmerston.html The English legacy of Palmerston Island]
* [http://www.cookislands.org.uk/palmerston.html The English legacy of Palmerston Island]
* [http://www.ck/palmston.htm Cook Islands website page on Palmerston Island] Revised January 20, 2007
* [http://www.ck/palmston.htm Cook Islands website page on Palmerston Island] Revised 20 January 2007
* [http://www.janeresture.com/palmerston/index.htm Jane's Cook Islands website page on Palmerston Island] Rev. 30 November 2007
* [http://www.janeresture.com/palmerston/index.htm Jane's Cook Islands website page on Palmerston Island] Revised 30 November 2007
* [http://www.santotoday.com/gowestsf/palmerst.htm Tourist account of Palmerston Island]
* [http://www.santotoday.com/gowestsf/palmerst.htm Tourist account of Palmerston Island]
* [http://rosset.org/photography/pacifique/indexp.htm Palmerston Island] Photos from a 1973 visit.
* [http://rosset.org/photography/pacifique/indexp.htm Palmerston Island] Photos from a 1973 visit
* [http://www.linz.govt.nz/topography/topo-maps/pacific-islands/index.aspx Map of Palmerston Island] Maps of all the Cook Islands with Palmerston
* [http://www.linz.govt.nz/topography/topo-maps/pacific-islands/index.aspx Map of Palmerston Island] Maps of all the Cook Islands with Palmerston
{{coord|18|04|S|163|10|W|display=title|source:cawiki}}
{{coord|18|04|S|163|10|W|display=title|source:cawiki}}

Revision as of 10:35, 30 December 2013

Satellite view of Palmerston
Map Palmerston

Palmerston Island is a coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean about 500 km northwest of Rarotonga.[1] It was discovered by James Cook on 16 June 1774.[2]

Overview

A true atoll, Palmerston Island consists of a number of sandy islets on a continuous ring of coral reef enclosing a lagoon. The largest of the islets include Palmerston, North Island, Lee To Us, Leicester, Primrose, Toms, and Cooks. The total land area of the islets is approximately one square mile (2.6 km²). The coral reef covers about 3,600 acres (15 km²). The lagoon is some seven miles (11 km) across, covering an area of 56 km². There are several small passages through the reef for boats, though there is no safe entry for large ships. At a latitude of 18 degrees south, Palmerston enjoys a tropical climate but is exposed to severe tropical cyclones. A particularly destructive series of storms occurred during the 1920s and 1930s.

All the islets are wooded with coconut palms, pandanus, and native trees. There is some natural ground water on Palmerston but water captured from rainfall is preferred for drinking. Shellfish inhabit the reef, and fish are abundant although there are concerns about overfishing. The population consists of approximately sixty inhabitants, all but three[3]descended from an Englishman named William Marsters (see History, below). The economy is based on fishing, tourism, copra, and bird feathers, though Palmerston’s extreme remoteness makes a cash market difficult to maintain. Electricity and other modern utilities are available on the island. A recently built telephone station provides the only permanent link to the outside world. The island has no airport or regular air service, but cargo ships visit a few times a year.[3]

History

Palmerston was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774, but he did not land on the island until 13 April 1777. He found it uninhabited, though some ancient graves were discovered.[2] Cook named the island after Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston, then Lord of the Admiralty.[2] The ancient name of the island was supposedly Avarau, meaning "two hundred harbour entrances".[2] In 1863 William Marsters, a ship's carpenter and barrel maker, arrived on Palmerston from Manuae with two Polynesian wives and annexed the island from the British government. He added a third "wife" and sired a large family of some 23 children, whose descendants now inhabit Palmerston. Thus, Palmerston Island is the only island in the Cook Islands for which English is the native language.

William Masters, originally thought to have come from Leicestershire, England, is now thought to have come from Gloucestershire, which might explain why his descendants now spell the name "Marsters" due to the Gloucestershire accent.[4] By the time his youngest daughter Titana Tangi died in 1973, there were over a thousand Marsters descendants living in Rarotonga and New Zealand. Though only some fifty family members remain on Palmerston, all Marsters descendants consider the island their ancestral home. In 1954 the family was granted full ownership of the island. Three branches of the family remain on Palmerston, each branch being descended from one of Williams three "wives", marriage within a family group being prohibited.[4]

Governance

Palmerston is administered by the Cook Islands government, through the Palmerston Island Administration (PIA),[5] in association with New Zealand.

The Island's Council consists of six members, the three heads of each family and three other members appointed by each family.[5] The Mayor is Bob Marsters.[5]

See also

Scratch My Arse Rock: popular fishing spot supposedly named by Marsters

References

  1. ^ "Geography". Palmerston Island. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "History". Palmerston Island. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b Martienssen, Thomas (30 December 2013). "Palmerston: The island at the end of the earth". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b Alleyne, Richard and Savill, Richard (28 April 2008). "The slice of paradise with a West Country lilt". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 December 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b c "Governance". General Information. Palmerston Island. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palmerston Island.

18°04′S 163°10′W / 18.067°S 163.167°W / -18.067; -163.167

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