Location North Pacific Total islands 1 Population 115 (1998) Area 93 ha | Archipelago Ralik Highest elevation 3 m (10 ft) Island group Ralik Chain | |
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Similar Maloelap Atoll, Arno Atoll, Ebeye Island, Butaritari, Darwin Island | ||
Lib Island (Marshallese: Ellep, [ɛ̯ɛlʲːɛpʲ]) is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It is a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is 0.93 km2. (0.36 sq. miles). The population of Lib Island is 115.
Contents
Map of Lib, Lib Island, RMI
History
The first recorded sighting by Europeans of Lib Island happened on 8 January 1565 by Spanish navigator Alonso de Arellano commanding patache San Lucas. It was charted by Arellano as Los Nadadores ("The Swimmers" in Spanish). In his account of the sighting, Arellano stated that the inhabitants of Lib would be fine for pulling an oar in a galley, being big and well made, and were a warlike people, being expert in throwing stones with slings. He also expressed an opinion that they must be of the Devil because their island was a thousand leagues from firm land.