Christmas Island
The 135 km² Christmas Island with the capital Flying Fish Cove is located in the Indian Ocean and politically belongs to Australia. Christmas Island is of volcanic origin and is composed of both volcanic rocks and limestone. Christmas Island rises from a depth of about 2,000 m and reaches a height of about 360 m above sea level.
Most of the coast is rugged and difficult to access. Christmas Island is known for the red, fist-sized to football-sized land crabs. Every November, millions of these inland crabs make their way to the coast to mate and lay their eggs in the sea. On their day-long march across the island, the bright red crabs overcome the greatest obstacles and steer unerringly into the sea.
About two thirds of the island’s surface is under nature protection. A large national park was established.
Christmas Island is considered to be one of the most dreamy regions on earth, but the island has little to do with Christmas. No fir trees, which are usually decorated for Christmas, grow here. But on the contrary. Christmas Island is covered over and over with tropical rainforest. The island owes its name to Europeans who first set foot on it on Christmas Day 1643.
There are also large numbers of palm thieves, also known as coconut crabs, on Christmas Island. The white-bellied frigate bird breeds exclusively on this island. In general, it must be mentioned that there are numerous animal species here on Christmas Island that are only found here or only raise their offspring here. There is even a species of shrew here that was actually thought to be extinct. Since 1990 animals of this kind have been discovered again on Christmas Island. For more information about the continent of Oceania, please check aristmarketing.com.
