Jemo Island

Jemo Island
NASA picture of Jemo Island
Map of the island
Jemo Island is located in Marshall Islands
Jemo Island
Jemo Island
Geography
LocationNorth Pacific
Coordinates10°07′N 169°33′E / 10.117°N 169.550°E / 10.117; 169.550
ArchipelagoRatak
Total islands1
Area0.16 km2 (0.062 sq mi)
Highest elevation3 m (10 ft)
Administration
Demographics
DemonymJemian

Jemo Island Atoll (Marshallese: Jemo̧ or Jāmo̧, [tʲæːmʲɒ][1][2]) is an uninhabited coral island in the Pacific Ocean, in the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands north-east of Likiep Atoll. The island is oval-shaped and occupies the southwestern end of a narrow submarine ridge that extends to the northeast for several kilometers. Its total land area is only 0.16 square kilometers (0.062 sq mi). The island is traditionally held as a food reserve for the family of Joachim and Lijon deBrum, passed down to Lijon debrum from Iroijlaplap Lobareo and is owned by the current Likiep land-owning families of Joachim and Lijon debrum, grandkids of Iroijlaplap Jortõka of Ratak Eañ. There is also a shipwreck of unknown origin on the west side of the island.

First recorded sighting of Jemo Island by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi on 10 January 1565. It was charted as Los Pajaros (The Birds in Spanish).[3]

  1. ^ Marshallese-English Dictionary - Place Name Index
  2. ^ "Marshallese-English Dictionary - Place Name Index".
  3. ^ Coello, Francisco "Conflicto hispano-alemán" Boletín de Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid, t.XIX. 2º semestre 1885, Madrid, p.286