Editing Maloelap Atoll

{{Short description|Coral atoll in the Marshall Islands}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Maloelap Atoll
| image_name       = Maloelap&Aur atoll (satellite).jpg
| image_caption    = [[NASA]] picture of Maloelap Atoll
| image_size       = 250px
| map = Marshall Islands
| map_caption = 
| location         = North Pacific
| coordinates      = {{coord|08|45|00|N|171|04|00|E|type:isle_region:MH|display=inline}}
| coastline_mi     = 
| country          = {{flag|Marshall Islands}}
| archipelago      = [[Ratak Chain|Ratak]]
| total_islands    = 71
| area_km2         = 9.8
| elevation_m      = 3
| population       = 395
| population_as_of = 2021
| ethnic_groups    = [[Marshallese people|Marshallese]]
|image_map=Maloelap Atoll in Marshall Islands.svg}}

The '''Maloelap Atoll''' ([[Marshallese language|Marshallese]]: '''{{lang|mh|M̧aļoeļap}}''', {{IPAc-mh|mhalhewyelhap}}<ref>[http://www.trussel2.com/MOD/LocM.htm#%E1%B9%82a%E1%B8%B7oe%E1%B8%B7ap Marshallese-English Dictionary - Place Name Index]</ref>) (also spelled Maleolap) is a [[coral atoll]] of 71 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the [[Ratak Chain]] of the [[Marshall Islands]].  Its land area is only {{convert|9.8|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}, but that encloses a lagoon of {{convert|972|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. It is located {{convert|18|km|mi|sp=us}} north of the atoll of [[Aur Atoll|Aur]]. The population of the atoll was 395 at the 2021 census.<ref name="2021census">{{cite web |url=https://spccfpstore1.blob.core.windows.net/digitallibrary-docs/files/60/605c69d76a40195baa447b5a558b0e02.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=GbQ42ZYNKrH3g389jZn7DvHUO8ObwYrFpnxIeXiRSU0%3D&se=2024-03-25T18%3A07%3A37Z&sp=r&rscc=public%2C%20max-age%3D864000%2C%20max-stale%3D86400&rsct=application%2Fpdf&rscd=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Marshall_Islands_2021_Census_Vol1_Table_report.pdf%22 |title=Republic of the Marshall Islands 2021 Census Report, Volume 1: Basic Tables and Administrative Report |date=May 30, 2023 |website=Pacific Community (SPC): Statistics for Development Division |publisher=[[Pacific Community]] |access-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-date=2023-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927183142/https://spccfpstore1.blob.core.windows.net/digitallibrary-docs/files/60/605c69d76a40195baa447b5a558b0e02.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=GbQ42ZYNKrH3g389jZn7DvHUO8ObwYrFpnxIeXiRSU0%3D&se=2024-03-25T18:07:37Z&sp=r&rscc=public,%20max-age%3D864000,%20max-stale%3D86400&rsct=application/pdf&rscd=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Marshall_Islands_2021_Census_Vol1_Table_report.pdf%22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The largest of the islands that make up the atoll are [[Taroa]] (the administrative center of the atoll), in the northeast, and [[Kaben]] in the northwest. Only three of the other islands in the atoll are inhabited: Airuk, Wolot and Jang. The island is served by [[Air Marshall Islands]] via [[Maloelap Airport]].

==History==
Maloelap Atoll was claimed by the [[German Empire]] along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1885.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Churchill |first1=William |author-link1=William Churchill (ethnologist) |date=1920 |title=Germany's Lost Pacific Empire |jstor=207706 |journal=Geographical Review |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=84–90|doi=10.2307/207706 |bibcode=1920GeoRv..10...84C }}</ref> After World War I, the island came under the [[South Seas Mandate]] of the [[Empire of Japan]].

In 1939, the Japanese built a seaplane base and landplane [[Taroa Airfield]] with two runways (4800' + 4100') and support buildings and facilities, including a [[radar]] station. During World War II the Japanese garrison of 2,940 navy men and 389 army men was commanded by Rear Admiral Shoichi Kamada.<ref name=Takizawa>{{cite web|first1=Akira |last1=Takizawa |first2=Allan |last2=Alsleben |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/japan_garrison.html |title=Japanese garrisons on the by-passed Pacific Islands 1944-1945 |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106231303/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/japan_garrison.html |archivedate=2016-01-06 }}</ref> The perimeter of the island was heavily fortified with 12 heavy coastal artillery and 10 heavy anti-aircraft guns.<ref name=Takizawa/> The island was attacked by the [[United States Navy]] beginning in February 1942 starting with carrier-based aircraft and shelling by warships. The attacks grew in frequency and severity after [[Majuro]] and [[Kwajalein]] had fallen to the Americans. Of the 3097-man Japanese garrison (1772 [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], 368 [[Imperial Japanese Army]], and 957 civilians) only 1041 (34%) survived the war. Several Marshallese were also killed. A large number of war relics, including plane wrecks, mainly [[Mitsubishi A6M]] Zero fighters and [[Mitsubishi G4M]] Betty bombers remain scattered about.

Following the end of World War II, the island came under the control of the United States as part of the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986. Maloelap Atoll was the first to ratify the [[Marshall Islands]]' constitution.

==Education==
[[Marshall Islands Public School System]] operates public schools:<ref>"[http://pss.edu.mh/en/public-schools Public Schools ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221144020/http://pss.edu.mh/en/public-schools |date=2018-02-21 }}." Marshall Islands Public School System. Retrieved on February 21, 2018.</ref>
* Aerok Elementary School
* Jang Elementary School
* Kaben Elementary School
* Ollet Elementary School
* Tarawa Elementary School

[[Northern Islands High School]] on [[Wotje]] serves the community.<ref>"[http://www.pss.edu.mh/files/PSSDocuments/Annual%20Reports/Annual%20Report%20MOE%202011-2012.pdf Annual Report 2011-2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222090338/http://www.pss.edu.mh/files/PSSDocuments/Annual%20Reports/Annual%20Report%20MOE%202011-2012.pdf |date=2018-02-22 }}." [[Ministry of Education (Marshall Islands)]]. Retrieved on February 22, 2018. p. 54 (PDF p. 55/118). "Northern Islands High School takes students from the Ratak Ean zone including schools in Aur, Maloelap, Wotje, Ailuk, Utrik, Likiep and Mejit."</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://marshall.csu.edu.au/Marshalls/html/atolls/maloelap.html Marshall Islands site]
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223043232/http://oceandots.com/pacific/marshall/maloelap.php |date=December 23, 2010 |title=Oceandots entry for Maloelap }}
* [http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/visitors/gajda/taroa/ Pacific Wrecks]
* {{cite web|first=Klemen |last=L |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/index.html |title=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |date=1999–2000 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726053035/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/index.html |archivedate=2011-07-26 }}
* [https://www.infomarshallislands.com/atolls-m-w/maloelap-atoll/ Info Marshall Islands - Maloelap Atoll]
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[[Category:Maloelap Atoll| ]]
[[Category:Atolls of the Marshall Islands]]
[[Category:Ratak Chain]]