Rongelap Atoll

Rongelap Atoll ( RONG-gə-lap; Marshallese: Ron̄ļap, [rʷɔŋʷ(ɔ)lˠɑpʲ]) is a formerly inhabited coral atoll of 61 islands (or motus) in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is 8 square miles (21 km2). It encloses a lagoon with an area of 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2). It is historically notable for its close proximity to US hydrogen bomb tests in 1954, and was particularly devastated by fallout from the Castle Bravo test. The U.S. initially waited two days to evacuate the Rongelapese people after this testing. In 1957, the U.S. moved these citizens back to Rongelap as a part of Project 4.1, and after 28 years of continued health issues due to radiation exposure, the population was forced to leave the atoll. Initially, the population asked the US (several times) to move them from Rongelap following the test due to high radiation levels, but with no success; so they asked global environmental group Greenpeace to help. The Rainbow Warrior made three trips moving the islanders, their possessions and over 100 tons of building materials to the island of Mejato in the Kwajalein Atoll, 180 kilometers away.

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