Wotje Atoll

NASA picture of Erikub and Wotje Atolls
Wotje Atoll (Marshall Islands)
Wotje Atoll
Geography
Location	North Pacific
Coordinates	09°26′30″N170°01′00″E / 9.44167°N 170.01667°E /9.44167; 170.01667
Archipelago	Ratak
Total islands	75
Area	8.18 km2 (3.16 sq mi)
Highest elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Administration
Marshall Islands
Demographics
Population	816 (2021)
Ethnic groups	Marshallese

Wotje Atoll (Marshallese:Wōjjā,[wʌttʲæ]^[1]) is acoral atoll of 75 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of theRatak Chain of theMarshall Islands.

Wotje's land area of 8.18 square kilometers (3.16 sq mi) is one of the largest in the Marshall Islands, and encloses a lagoon of 624 square kilometers (241 sq mi). The atoll is oriented east and west and is 45 kilometers (28 mi) at its longest point, and 18 kilometers (11 mi) at its greatest width. As of 2007^[update], the population was nearly 1,000, which included about 200 teenagers who live on the island at the public boarding school, Northern Islands High School. The population of the atoll was 816 at the 2021 census.^[2] The Wotje Atoll includes a number of islets, including Wotje (the largest), Bodao, Enejeltalk, Ukon, Wetwirok, Kaiken, Wormej, Kimajo, Ninum, Kaben. About 125 people live on Wodmej, which is approximately 8 miles from the main island of Wotje. All other islands are uninhabited and are used only forcopra production, picnics, and food gathering.

First recorded sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition ofRuy López de Villalobos on 25 December 1542 that charted it asLos Corales (The Coral Islands in Spanish) because of the many corals and having anchored in these. One of the islets of this atoll was charted asSan Esteban by Villalobos because they landed on it onSt. Stephen's day (26 December 1542).^[3][4][5]

Wotje Atoll was claimed by theGerman Empire along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1885.^[6] After World War I, the island came under theSouth Seas Mandate of theEmpire of Japan. The Japanese established a school on the island, which served the atolls of the Ratak Chain, but otherwise left the administration in the hands of local authorities.

However, from the end of the 1930s, Wotje was developed as into a major Japaneseseaplane base, and also had an airfield with two runways for land-based aircraft, and several hundred support buildings. During World War II the atoll was garrisoned by the Japanese.^[7] The coasts were heavily fortified withcoastal artillery and anti-aircraft batteries. The only bombing of Hawaii afterPearl Harbor was executed by seaplanes from Wotje.^[8] The Japanese garrison at Wotje at its peak numbered 2,959 men from theImperial Japanese Navy, 424 men from theImperial Japanese Army^[7] and some 750 civilian workers, many of whom were conscripted ethnic Koreans. From mid-1943 the island came under attack byUnited States Navy carrier-based aircraft and was frequently shelled by warships. The attacks increased in frequency and severity after the fall ofMajuro andKwajalein to American forces, and all supply lines to Wotje were cut. By thesurrender of Japan, only 1244 men of the garrison remained alive.

Following the end of World War II, Wotje came under the control of the United States as part of theTrust Territory of the Pacific Islands until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986. Many World War II artifacts remain on the main island of Wotje, including a large concrete airstrip, bunkers and heavy artillery.^{[citation needed]}

Marshall Islands Public School System operates public schools.

Primary schools:^[10]

• Wodmej Elementary School
• Wotje Elementary School
• St. Thomas Elementary School (managed by CatholicMaryknoll Sisters) [Closed in June 2012]

High schools:^[11]

• Northern Islands High School

Higher Education

• College of the Marshall Islands extension campus [broke ground in 2020]

There are four churches on Wotje: Catholic,Protestant,Assembly of God, andFull Gospel. Additionally, there are a small number ofLatter-Day Saints who live on the atoll.

Wotje is serviced by ships several times a year which transport food supplies. In addition, the local government and senator manage a small ship,Northern Star, which makes more frequent trips. Air services are provided byAir Marshall Islands toWotje Airport.

• Japanese seaplane base on Wotje
• Oceandots entry for Wotje at theWayback Machine (archived December 23, 2010)
• Marshall Islands site
• L, Klemen (1999–2000)."Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942". Archived fromthe original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved2021-03-30.

• Wotje Atoll
• Atolls of the Marshall Islands

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