Editing Teraina (section)

== Physical geography ==
[[File:NASA-WashingtonIsland.jpg|thumb|left|Teraina in April 2006, SSW on top. Note flooded bogland in west (right) part of island.]]
As regards its physical characteristics, this is one of the most interesting islands in the Pacific. It is a [[raised coral atoll]], but it has not filled up with sand and soil, yet still retains a significant remnant of the former [[lagoon]]. The lake, however, is only just barely perceptibly [[brackish]], as its only significant source is the plentiful [[rain]]. The lake is only a few feet (around 1–2 meters) deep for the most part, though the supposed maximum depth is nearly {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Being only about {{convert|520|km|mi nmi|abbr=on}} away from the [[equator]], Teeraina is inside the [[Intertropical Convergence Zone|ITCZ]]; its climate is thus extremely [[humid]], making it one of the "wet" Pacific islands.<ref>Streets (1877), Resture (2004)</ref>

The western inland is made up by [[peat]] [[bog]], which is still flooded after heavy rains,<ref name = streets1877>Streets (1877)</ref> and constitutes infilled former lakebed. It is not clear in what way the western lake or lakes – there are now 2 main areas of bogland, which may correspond to former lake basins – were connected to the remaining waterbody.<ref name = streets1877 /> One bog is immediately adjacent to the lake's western end, the other is halfway between that and the island's northwest tip. [[Canal]]s have been cut into the bogs, for [[punt (boat)|punting]], [[Watercraft rowing|rowing]] and [[motor boat]]s transporting people and produce. There is some removal of peat and sediments to stem the lake's ongoing infilling; in addition it seems that in recent times, the lake's level is slowly rising again so that the eastern bog's area has receded somewhat. The peat reaches thicknesses of about {{convert|1|-|1.5|m|ft|sp=us}}, much of which is located above sea level.<ref name = resture2004 />

It is also not precisely known where the last connection of the inland waters to the ocean were, and when they closed. The southeast end is more likely however, as the island is in the [[Equatorial Counter Current]] which runs west to east, and drifting [[coral]] and other [[reef]]-builder larvae as well as [[flotsam]] would therefore predominantly land at the island's western side.<ref name = resture2004 /> Thus, it is to be expected that land builds up faster there. This also agrees with the eastern location of the remaining lake. In any case, the canal network now opens to the sea south of Tangkore, and there is a direct connection from the lake to the ocean at Teraina's eastern tip.<ref>[http://faculty.washington.edu/jsachs/lab/www/Research/Kiribati_Expedition_2005/Xmas130.jpg Image] washington.edu</ref>