Laura, Marshall Islands

Beach scenery

Laura (Marshallese: Ļora, [lˠɔːrˠɑ])[1] is an island town situated in Marshall Islands. It is located in the west of Majuro Atoll. At approximately 10 feet (3.0 m) above sea level, Laura has the highest elevation of any islands in the Majuro Atoll. Marshall Islands International Airport is located on the island of Laura. A road connects the island of Laura to Djarrit.

On January 30, 1944, United States troops invaded and built a large base, Naval Base Majuro.[2][3]

The town was named by World War II GIs in reference to American actress Lauren Bacall.[4][5] Djarrit, also known as Rita, was named in the same period for actress Rita Hayworth.[6]

  1. ^ Marshallese-English Dictionary - Place Name Index
  2. ^ "Marshall Islands -- Building the Navy's Bases -- Majuro Naval Base". marshall.csu.edu.au.
  3. ^ Majuro Atollpacificwrecks.com
  4. ^ Marshall Islands - Post Report - E Diplomat. N.p., n.d. Web. August 13, 2014. Marshall Islands - Post Report - E Diplomat
  5. ^ "Marshall Islands". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 13 August 2014. The inhabited islands along the southern side of Majuro Atoll have been joined over time by landfill and a bridge to form a 30-mile road from Rita, on the extreme eastern end, to Laura, at the western end. Both villages were so code-named by U.S. forces in World War II after favorite pinups Rita Hayworth and Lauren Bacall.
  6. ^ Friend, Tad (27 February 2001). Lost in Mongolia: Travels in Hollywood and Other Foreign Lands. Random House Publishing Group. p. 259. ISBN 978-0-679-64705-8.