Enewetak Atoll

Westernmost Ralik Chain, Marshall Islands

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Enewetak Atoll, part of the westernmost Ralik Chain in the Marshall Islands, is a large coral atoll made up of 40 low-lying islands surrounding a deep lagoon about 80 kilometers in circumference. It has a small population of under 300 people and covers less than 6 square kilometers of land, with an average elevation of just a few meters above sea level.

Historically controlled by Japan during World War II, it was captured by the United States in 1944 and later used as a major site for nuclear testing from 1948 to the 1950s during the Cold War. After extensive cleanup efforts, the atoll was declared partially safe for habitation in the 1980s, though some areas remain contaminated.

A concrete structure called the Runit Dome was built to contain radioactive debris, but ongoing concerns exist over its deterioration and risk of leakage due to rising sea levels and storms. Enewetak remains a significant location for its wartime history, nuclear legacy, and unique Pacific island geography.