| How a Real Die-Hard Solved the Puzzle |
| Photos from the Millennium Celebration on Caroline Island (Millennium Island) Click here for more. |
 |  |  |  |
| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
 |  |  |  |
Answers: 1. Caroline or Millennium Island 2. It's the first land on earth to welcome the new year 3. Flint Island |
| ********** |
| ********** |
| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| Quiz #239 Results |
| Caroline Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Island http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/line/caroline.php |
I included at least one hint to the puzzle that made it a little easier to solve, but that did
not give the answer away. I named this week's image file ny_island.jpg. Many of you
thought at first that this stood for New York Island, but it really stood for New Year
Island. The fact that the puzzle was our New Year's puzzle I thought might also nudge
people in the right direction.
not give the answer away. I named this week's image file ny_island.jpg. Many of you
thought at first that this stood for New York Island, but it really stood for New Year
Island. The fact that the puzzle was our New Year's puzzle I thought might also nudge
people in the right direction.
| NY Island |
nation's independence in 1979, Caroline Island has remained relatively untouched and is
considered one of the world's most pristine tropical islands, despite guano mining,
copra harvesting, and human habitation in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is home to one
of the world's largest populations of the coconut crag and is an important breeding site
for seabirds, most notably the sooty tern.
On the reef rim there are 39 islets — South Island (104 ha), the 4.2 km-long Long
Island (76 ha) and Nake Islet (107 ha) being the largest — with a combined area of 3.9
km². They enclose a 9 km long, shallow lagoon that is 5-7 m in depth and up to 500 m
across. Within the lagoon are numerous coral heads and patch reefs — some of which
form east-west barriers across the lagoon. The surrounding reef flats — averaging 500
m in width — are continuous around the perimeter of the atoll with no reef-crossing
passage connecting the interior waters of the lagoon with the surrounding ocean.
Instead water exchange takes place via numerous spillways as the tides rise and fall.
The atoll is best known for its role in celebrations surrounding the arrival of the year
2000— a 1995 realignment of the International Date Line made Caroline Island one of
the first points of land on Earth to see sunrise on January 1, 2000.
considered one of the world's most pristine tropical islands, despite guano mining,
copra harvesting, and human habitation in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is home to one
of the world's largest populations of the coconut crag and is an important breeding site
for seabirds, most notably the sooty tern.
On the reef rim there are 39 islets — South Island (104 ha), the 4.2 km-long Long
Island (76 ha) and Nake Islet (107 ha) being the largest — with a combined area of 3.9
km². They enclose a 9 km long, shallow lagoon that is 5-7 m in depth and up to 500 m
across. Within the lagoon are numerous coral heads and patch reefs — some of which
form east-west barriers across the lagoon. The surrounding reef flats — averaging 500
m in width — are continuous around the perimeter of the atoll with no reef-crossing
passage connecting the interior waters of the lagoon with the surrounding ocean.
Instead water exchange takes place via numerous spillways as the tides rise and fall.
The atoll is best known for its role in celebrations surrounding the arrival of the year
2000— a 1995 realignment of the International Date Line made Caroline Island one of
the first points of land on Earth to see sunrise on January 1, 2000.
Tito to eliminate the confustion of Kiribati straddling the
Date line and therefore being constantly in two different
days. However, Kiribati officials were not reluctant to
attempt to capitalize on the nation's new status as owners
of the first land to see sunrise in 2000. Other Pacific
nations, including Tonga and New Zealand's Chatham
Islands, protested the move, objecting that it infringed on
their claims to be the first land to see dawn in the year
2000.
In 1999, in order to further capitalize upon the massive
public interest in celebrations marking the arrival of the
year 2000, Caroline Island was officially renamed
Millennium Island. Although uninhabited, a special
celebration was held on the island, featuring
performances by Kiribati native entertainers and attended
by Kiribati president Tito. Over 70 Kiribati singers and
dancers traveled to Caroline from the capital Tarawa,
accompanied by approximately 25 journalists. The
Date line and therefore being constantly in two different
days. However, Kiribati officials were not reluctant to
attempt to capitalize on the nation's new status as owners
of the first land to see sunrise in 2000. Other Pacific
nations, including Tonga and New Zealand's Chatham
Islands, protested the move, objecting that it infringed on
their claims to be the first land to see dawn in the year
2000.
In 1999, in order to further capitalize upon the massive
public interest in celebrations marking the arrival of the
year 2000, Caroline Island was officially renamed
Millennium Island. Although uninhabited, a special
celebration was held on the island, featuring
performances by Kiribati native entertainers and attended
by Kiribati president Tito. Over 70 Kiribati singers and
dancers traveled to Caroline from the capital Tarawa,
accompanied by approximately 25 journalists. The
Caroline Island or Caroline Atoll (also known
as Millennium Island), is the easternmost of
the uninhabited coral atolls which comprise
the southern Line Islands in the central
Pacific Ocean. The islands of Vostok and
Flint are located 232 km to the west and 230
km to the southwest, respectively; Kiritimati
is situated around 1,500 km to the northwest.
Millennium is an atoll formation with an
elongated, slightly crescentic, shape
measuring 9.7 km in length and 2.3 km in
width.
First sighted by Europeans in 1606, claimed
by the United Kingdom in 1868, and part of
the Republic of Kiribati since the island
as Millennium Island), is the easternmost of
the uninhabited coral atolls which comprise
the southern Line Islands in the central
Pacific Ocean. The islands of Vostok and
Flint are located 232 km to the west and 230
km to the southwest, respectively; Kiritimati
is situated around 1,500 km to the northwest.
Millennium is an atoll formation with an
elongated, slightly crescentic, shape
measuring 9.7 km in length and 2.3 km in
width.
First sighted by Europeans in 1606, claimed
by the United Kingdom in 1868, and part of
the Republic of Kiribati since the island
| ********** |
On the reef rim there are 39 islets — South Island (104 ha), the 4.2 km-long Long
Island (76 ha) and Nake Islet (107 ha) being the largest — with a combined area of 3.9
km². They enclose a 9 km long, shallow lagoon that is 5-7 m in depth and up to 500 m
across. Within the lagoon are numerous coral heads and patch reefs — some of which
form east-west barriers across the lagoon. The surrounding reef flats — averaging 500
m in width — are continuous around the perimeter of the atoll with no reef-crossing
passage connecting the interior waters of the lagoon with the surrounding ocean.
Instead water exchange takes place via numerous spillways as the tides rise and fall.
On December 23, 1994, the Republic of Kiribati announced a change of time zone for
the Line Islands, to take effect January 1, 1995. This adjustment effectively moved the
International Date Line over 1000 kilometers (600 mi) to the east within Kiribati, placing
all of Kiribati on the Asian or western side of the date line, despite the fact that
Caroline's longitude of 150 degrees west corresponds to UTC−10 rather than its official
time zone of UTC+14. Caroline Island now is at the same time as the Hawaiian Islands
(Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time Zone), but one day later. This move made Caroline
Island both the easternmost land in the earliest time zone (by some definitions, the
easternmost point on Earth), and one of the first points of land which would see sunrise
on January 1, 2000 — at 5:43 a.m., as measured by local time.
The stated reason for the move was a campaign promise of Kiribati President Teburoro
Island (76 ha) and Nake Islet (107 ha) being the largest — with a combined area of 3.9
km². They enclose a 9 km long, shallow lagoon that is 5-7 m in depth and up to 500 m
across. Within the lagoon are numerous coral heads and patch reefs — some of which
form east-west barriers across the lagoon. The surrounding reef flats — averaging 500
m in width — are continuous around the perimeter of the atoll with no reef-crossing
passage connecting the interior waters of the lagoon with the surrounding ocean.
Instead water exchange takes place via numerous spillways as the tides rise and fall.
On December 23, 1994, the Republic of Kiribati announced a change of time zone for
the Line Islands, to take effect January 1, 1995. This adjustment effectively moved the
International Date Line over 1000 kilometers (600 mi) to the east within Kiribati, placing
all of Kiribati on the Asian or western side of the date line, despite the fact that
Caroline's longitude of 150 degrees west corresponds to UTC−10 rather than its official
time zone of UTC+14. Caroline Island now is at the same time as the Hawaiian Islands
(Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time Zone), but one day later. This move made Caroline
Island both the easternmost land in the earliest time zone (by some definitions, the
easternmost point on Earth), and one of the first points of land which would see sunrise
on January 1, 2000 — at 5:43 a.m., as measured by local time.
The stated reason for the move was a campaign promise of Kiribati President Teburoro
| Location |
| More Beautiful Islands from Space http://www.pocketburgers.com/2009/11/out-of-blue-islands-seen-from-space.html |
| Location |
| Nikunonu Lagoon |
| Atafu Atoll, Tokelau, Pacific Ocean |
Around 500 people live on Atafu Atoll, mostly in a village that can be seen on the corner
in the left of the image above. Atafu is just five miles wide and is the smallest of three
atolls in the Tokelau Islands, a New Zealand territory.
Atafu is made up of coral reefs that surrounded the flanks of a volcano that has since
become inactive and submerged. Like many tropical atolls, Atafu is very low lying and
vulnerable to sea-level rise. This photograph was taken by astronauts aboard the
International Space Station in January 2009.
For more information, click here.
in the left of the image above. Atafu is just five miles wide and is the smallest of three
atolls in the Tokelau Islands, a New Zealand territory.
Atafu is made up of coral reefs that surrounded the flanks of a volcano that has since
become inactive and submerged. Like many tropical atolls, Atafu is very low lying and
vulnerable to sea-level rise. This photograph was taken by astronauts aboard the
International Space Station in January 2009.
For more information, click here.
| Flag of Tokelu |
| Nukunonu |
| ********** |
| Location (Note Aleutian Island chain from upper right to middle left) |
| ********** |
| Answer to Quiz #239 December 28, 2009 |
| Onekotan Island, Russia |
followed a week later by Krenitzyn’s only historical eruption. This image was captured
by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite on
June 10, 2009.
by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite on
June 10, 2009.
An island within an island was created
after a big eruption around 9,000 years
ago caused the peak of Onekotan’s
volcano to collapse, forming a caldera
that subsequently filled with water. The
island inside the caldera is known as
Krenitzyn Peak, which is the highest
point on the island at around 4,300 feet.
Onekotan is in Russia’s Kuril Islands
between Japan and the tip of the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The islands were
formed by volcanic activity caused by
the subduction of the Pacific Plate
beneath the Eurasian Plate. Subduction
can also generate some of the largest
earthquakes on Earth, including a
magnitude 9 here in 1952 which was
after a big eruption around 9,000 years
ago caused the peak of Onekotan’s
volcano to collapse, forming a caldera
that subsequently filled with water. The
island inside the caldera is known as
Krenitzyn Peak, which is the highest
point on the island at around 4,300 feet.
Onekotan is in Russia’s Kuril Islands
between Japan and the tip of the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The islands were
formed by volcanic activity caused by
the subduction of the Pacific Plate
beneath the Eurasian Plate. Subduction
can also generate some of the largest
earthquakes on Earth, including a
magnitude 9 here in 1952 which was
The Galápagos Islands (official name: Archipiélago de Colón; other Spanish names:
Islas de Colón or Islas Galápagos) are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed
around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of continental Ecuador. It is a
UNESCO World Heritage site: wildlife is its most notable feature.
The Galápagos islands and its surrounding waters are part of a province, a national
park, and a biological marine reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish.
The islands have a population of around 40,000, which is a 40-fold expansion in 50
years.
The islands are geologically young and famed for their vast number of endemic species,
which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. His
observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of
evolution by natural selection.
The Galapagos Islands are the tops of volcanoes on the sea floor. The volcanic activity
that formed the islands is thought to be the result of a plume of hot mantle material
rising from deep in the Earth’s interior.
The largest island, Isla Isabela, is made of the lava flows of six gently sloped shield
volcanoes. The northernmost of Isabela’s volcanoes, at the top of the image above, is
Wolf Volcano, which has erupted at least nine times since 1797. This image was taken
by the Landsat 7 satellite in 2001.
For more information, click here.
Islas de Colón or Islas Galápagos) are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed
around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of continental Ecuador. It is a
UNESCO World Heritage site: wildlife is its most notable feature.
The Galápagos islands and its surrounding waters are part of a province, a national
park, and a biological marine reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish.
The islands have a population of around 40,000, which is a 40-fold expansion in 50
years.
The islands are geologically young and famed for their vast number of endemic species,
which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. His
observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of
evolution by natural selection.
The Galapagos Islands are the tops of volcanoes on the sea floor. The volcanic activity
that formed the islands is thought to be the result of a plume of hot mantle material
rising from deep in the Earth’s interior.
The largest island, Isla Isabela, is made of the lava flows of six gently sloped shield
volcanoes. The northernmost of Isabela’s volcanoes, at the top of the image above, is
Wolf Volcano, which has erupted at least nine times since 1797. This image was taken
by the Landsat 7 satellite in 2001.
For more information, click here.
The Tao-Rusyr Caldera, about 6 kilometers wide and completely filled with Koltsevoe
Lake (Ring Lake). Click here for more pictures. View to the south.
Lake (Ring Lake). Click here for more pictures. View to the south.
I found it really interesting on lots of different levels. I was one who looked all over
New York, but my brain set off a glimmer of an idea at some point. It wasn't anything
about the information I was looking at, just a little intuitivity (is that a word? if not, it
should be.) It started me searching on the international date line and voila.
Gina Hudson
*****
I actually looked at the file name very early in trying to solve this quiz. It did not help
very much as I searched high and low for a similar island along any coastal region of
the state of New York - including the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Ontario. I am aware of
quiz photos, often, being related to an event which happened, in the past, but during the
current time period. The Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 seemed like a likely candidate.
Islands near Thailand were searched but I found no match. Once I got it in my head
that ny could be New Year it became a much easier search.
The photo is of Caroline Island also referred to as Millenium Island. Once I found it on
Google Earth it was more clear that the middle section of the island is water.
Don Draper
*****
The only reason I could answer this is because Colleen is VERY generous with her
hints. From the very beginning I was stuck on New Year and couldn't get away from
that mindset, in fact she had to try hints twice for my poor brain to get the answer.
Milene Rawlinson
*****
How I got there: ny_island jpg: there are islands in New York State; I spent a bit of time
checking out islands near New York City and upper New York State. nope.
Then it dawned on me that the letters NY may also stand for New Year. There are
islands named New=Year in Alaska and Tasmania. Tasmania linking then led me to
Christmas Island which straddles the International Date Line (subject of an earlier
contest quiz)and then to Caroline Island. In a way, clues could also be found in your
holiday greeting banner. Mike Dalton
*****
It occurs to me that this nonsense could only be important to humans, that the island
itself probably doesn't care at all. Please pardon my cynicism. Peter Norton
*****
I actually try not to start with the file name as a hint, and instead look for other clues.
In this puzzle I knew that the photo was technically an atoll, was very remote, and
knowing the time of year it was I "guestimated" that the new year time change might
have some importance. Prior experience with Quiz #216 helped with that. Since I
could only name 2 atolls, Bikini and Millenium island, I started looking for LandSat
photos online. Didn't take long to confirm that this was Millenium Island, so I never
had to get to the file name (which I usually consider to be a last resort, or worse, a red
herring.)
So my search was always in the Pacific looking for atolls. Never looked for anything
anywhere near NY!
I seem to be on a good roll with the photo quizzes lately. Maybe it is because I'm
drawing on my experience/impressions of the photos, and not on the file names. Not
sure, but makes me think about the things we 'know' about old photos that might be
holding back some other discoveries.
Gerald Vanlandingham
*****
It's claim to fame is it's being the home to one of the the world's largest population of
coconut crab. Ok, ok! The REAL claim of fame (ahem) is that it is (one of) the first
place(s) to have seen sunrise on January 1, 2000 due to the realignment of the
International Date line.
Took a great deal of searching all over the earth (or at least Google Earth), before I
realized taht it would have some significance to the New YEar. Even checked on New
Year Island (in Alaska) and went all around the IDL. Finally got the right search words
and found the answer. Carl Blessing
*****
Thanks [for the hint], but I still can’t find it. (I officially feel dense for getting stuck by
“inside the box” thinking on the “ny” abbreviation.) I found New Year Island in Alaska
and in Australia, but neither matched. I look forward to reading the answer on Sunday.
Eric Goforth
*****
It didn't take long, actually; maybe ten minutes. Just lucky, I guess. Maybe it was
because I added "atoll" or "pacific" or somesuch to my search strings. Ben Truwe
*****
I first thought the NY stood for New York instead of New Year. The way I found the
answer was a fluke. Because the atoll was rather long I searched for "Long Island
Atoll" and only found Caroline Island because it is has both a Long Island and a South
Island. Anyway, coming through the back door sometimes works. Daniel E. Jolley
*****
The winning search(page 2): equator island satellite photo. Tamura Jones
*****
Didn't we buy this for about 60 guilders? lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawing_off_of_Manhattan_Island Marilyn Hamill
New York, but my brain set off a glimmer of an idea at some point. It wasn't anything
about the information I was looking at, just a little intuitivity (is that a word? if not, it
should be.) It started me searching on the international date line and voila.
Gina Hudson
*****
I actually looked at the file name very early in trying to solve this quiz. It did not help
very much as I searched high and low for a similar island along any coastal region of
the state of New York - including the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Ontario. I am aware of
quiz photos, often, being related to an event which happened, in the past, but during the
current time period. The Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 seemed like a likely candidate.
Islands near Thailand were searched but I found no match. Once I got it in my head
that ny could be New Year it became a much easier search.
The photo is of Caroline Island also referred to as Millenium Island. Once I found it on
Google Earth it was more clear that the middle section of the island is water.
Don Draper
*****
The only reason I could answer this is because Colleen is VERY generous with her
hints. From the very beginning I was stuck on New Year and couldn't get away from
that mindset, in fact she had to try hints twice for my poor brain to get the answer.
Milene Rawlinson
*****
How I got there: ny_island jpg: there are islands in New York State; I spent a bit of time
checking out islands near New York City and upper New York State. nope.
Then it dawned on me that the letters NY may also stand for New Year. There are
islands named New=Year in Alaska and Tasmania. Tasmania linking then led me to
Christmas Island which straddles the International Date Line (subject of an earlier
contest quiz)and then to Caroline Island. In a way, clues could also be found in your
holiday greeting banner. Mike Dalton
*****
It occurs to me that this nonsense could only be important to humans, that the island
itself probably doesn't care at all. Please pardon my cynicism. Peter Norton
*****
I actually try not to start with the file name as a hint, and instead look for other clues.
In this puzzle I knew that the photo was technically an atoll, was very remote, and
knowing the time of year it was I "guestimated" that the new year time change might
have some importance. Prior experience with Quiz #216 helped with that. Since I
could only name 2 atolls, Bikini and Millenium island, I started looking for LandSat
photos online. Didn't take long to confirm that this was Millenium Island, so I never
had to get to the file name (which I usually consider to be a last resort, or worse, a red
herring.)
So my search was always in the Pacific looking for atolls. Never looked for anything
anywhere near NY!
I seem to be on a good roll with the photo quizzes lately. Maybe it is because I'm
drawing on my experience/impressions of the photos, and not on the file names. Not
sure, but makes me think about the things we 'know' about old photos that might be
holding back some other discoveries.
Gerald Vanlandingham
*****
It's claim to fame is it's being the home to one of the the world's largest population of
coconut crab. Ok, ok! The REAL claim of fame (ahem) is that it is (one of) the first
place(s) to have seen sunrise on January 1, 2000 due to the realignment of the
International Date line.
Took a great deal of searching all over the earth (or at least Google Earth), before I
realized taht it would have some significance to the New YEar. Even checked on New
Year Island (in Alaska) and went all around the IDL. Finally got the right search words
and found the answer. Carl Blessing
*****
Thanks [for the hint], but I still can’t find it. (I officially feel dense for getting stuck by
“inside the box” thinking on the “ny” abbreviation.) I found New Year Island in Alaska
and in Australia, but neither matched. I look forward to reading the answer on Sunday.
Eric Goforth
*****
It didn't take long, actually; maybe ten minutes. Just lucky, I guess. Maybe it was
because I added "atoll" or "pacific" or somesuch to my search strings. Ben Truwe
*****
I first thought the NY stood for New York instead of New Year. The way I found the
answer was a fluke. Because the atoll was rather long I searched for "Long Island
Atoll" and only found Caroline Island because it is has both a Long Island and a South
Island. Anyway, coming through the back door sometimes works. Daniel E. Jolley
*****
The winning search(page 2): equator island satellite photo. Tamura Jones
*****
Didn't we buy this for about 60 guilders? lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawing_off_of_Manhattan_Island Marilyn Hamill
| ********** |
| The Galapagos Islands |
| Comments from Our Readers |
| 1. What is the name of this island? 2. What is its claim to fame? 3. What is the closest land? |
| High Resolution Map of Caroline Island Showing Points of Interest http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/line/caroline3.php |
| Location |
| Caroline Island in relation to the International Date Line. |
| Galapagos Giant Tortoise |
| ********** |
| Andy and I wish all of our friends and quiz-family a Happy Holiday Season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! |
Congratulations to Our Winners! Don Draper Milene Rawlinson Daniel E. Jolley Gina Hudson Mike Dalton Peter Norton Jocelyn Thayer and Mr. Rick Mackinney Stan Read Gerald Vanlandingham Ben Truwe Carl Blessing Karen Kay Bunting Robert W. Steinmann Jr. Jim Kiser Tamura Jones Margaret Paxton Debbie Sterbinsky |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fakaofo Atoll |
| Island Names |
| ********** |
| ********** |
celebration, broadcast by satellite worldwide, had an estimated audience of up to one
billion viewers.
Despite many media and government claims to the contrary, Caroline Island was not
the first point of land to see sunrise on January 1, 2000 (local time); that distinction
belongs to a point of land between Dibble Glacier and Victor Bay on the coast of East
billion viewers.
Despite many media and government claims to the contrary, Caroline Island was not
the first point of land to see sunrise on January 1, 2000 (local time); that distinction
belongs to a point of land between Dibble Glacier and Victor Bay on the coast of East
Antarctica, at 66°03′S 135°53′
E / 66.05°S 135.883°E / -66.05;
135.883, where the sun rose 35 minutes
earlier. As this point is close to the
Antarctic Circle, and the area beyond the
Antarctic Circle is affected by the
continuous sunlight in December, the
definition of the exact point becomes a
question of distinguishing between a sunset
and an immediate sunrise in view of
atmospheric refraction effects.
E / 66.05°S 135.883°E / -66.05;
135.883, where the sun rose 35 minutes
earlier. As this point is close to the
Antarctic Circle, and the area beyond the
Antarctic Circle is affected by the
continuous sunlight in December, the
definition of the exact point becomes a
question of distinguishing between a sunset
and an immediate sunrise in view of
atmospheric refraction effects.
| First place the sun rose on Jan 1, 2009. |
| President Tito arrives. |
| The chanters. |
| The chanters again. |
| Colleen- This was a great one as I worked on it for a long time and went on quite the island-hopping voyage! The file name NY_island first lead me to believe it had something to do with the south shore of Long Island, NY. I checked every sandbar, shoal, island in and around NY with no success. Your hint, NY = New Year's or New Year Island, led me to think Christmas Island, Easter Island, New Year's Island, of which there are quite a few. Looked into Año Nuevo Island in N. California (No!). Read about Cook's ship "Resolution" searching for his lost ship "Adventure" on his 1774 expedition led me to Cape Horn/Tierra del Fuego/Straits of Le Maire/Straits of Magellan On 31 December 1774, the ship was anchored between the north coast of Staten Island (Not New York !!!) and a small off-shore islet. This island was named New Year's Island, and there is a New Year's Harbour on Staten Island (Not New York !!!). Geography/Geology obviously do not match--> The quiz picture is a coral atoll with a lagoon! Next stop was the island of Nanumea, SHOCKINGLY, almost the mirror image of Caroline Island [Check This Out!] (Close, but no cigar). Took a break, checking out NASA LandSat images, read a paper on coastal erosion in the Tuvalu Islands, hoping that Nanumea could have eroded into our target quiz photo-Thankfully No!). Ate lunch, Went to work, came home. Took a virtual voyage to the Gilbert & Ellice Islands. Found references to Mejit (Mejdit), Mewzitito (Miadi), all references to "New Year's" Islands in South Pacific - Man, I'm really close-NOT! Looked at a small island again off the coast of King Island, Tasmania (Geology doesn't match!). Looked back at ill-fated Capt. Cook again, HMS Beagle- Darwin, The US Exploring Expedition, Bligh, watching "Master & Commander" again (not enough time!), thought about reading "Mutiny On the Bounty" again (definitely not enough time!). Read a .pdf called Checklist of Atolls by E.H. Bryan, Jr. (Atoll Research Bulletin # 19) Issued by The Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences- National Research Council, Washington, D.C..Went back to my archived research files on Forensic Genealogy Quiz # 216 (Western Samoa/US Samoa) and started thinking about the IDL.....then it hit me like a good sailing wind.... MILLENNIUM !!!!! Punched in "Millennium Island" and Caroline Island was where the "X" was on the treasure map. So there you have it !!!! Time to furl the sails, and get some rest until the next time it's time to beat to quarters again..... It's been quite a long journey!!!!!!!! Happy New Year !!!! Robert W. Steinmann, Jr. |