What are some fun facts about Christmas Island?

What are some fun facts about Christmas Island?

What rare bird is on Christmas Island?

An internationally renowned seabird rookery, Christmas Island attracts about 80,000 nesting seabirds every year. These include the world's rarest booby and frigatebird.

What food is Christmas Island known for?

Traditionally, chickens were kept on the island and locals produced their own pickled eggs and Chinese century eggs. Dishes that made use of the chickens themselves were popular along with dishes that included local coconut crabs. However, coconut crabs are now a protected species.

Can you have dogs on Christmas Island?

The importation of dogs and cats into Christmas Island is prohibited by the Importation of Dogs and Cats Ordinance 1973, due to concerns about environmental, social, cultural, animal health and welfare issues.

Can you work on Christmas Island?

Working at Christmas Island is a challenging but immensely rewarding experience for anyone who wants to make a difference in a unique and highly fragile wilderness environment. Our current job vacancies are advertised on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.

What animals are found on Christmas Island?

What is the nickname of Christmas Island?

Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island) is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands. It is part of the Republic of Kiribati. The name is derived from the English word Christmas written in Gilbertese according to its phonology, in which the combination ti is pronounced s, giving [ki'r?smæs].

Can you drink alcohol on Christmas Island?

That means you can score a great deal on popular duty-free items such as fragrances, leather goods, electronics, jewellery, watches and sunglasses. It also means Christmas Island has some of the cheapest alcohol in Australia – perfect for treating yourself to a beer or a gin and tonic as the sun goes down.

Is Christmas Island a country yes or no?

Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean. The island is largely covered by rainforest and features many natural attractions such as blowholes, grottos, and wildlife.

Are there 2 Christmas Islands?

Two islands have, at one time or another, carried the name Christmas Island. The Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean is today better known as Kiritimati, and is part of the nation of Kiribati.

Is there TV on Christmas Island?

Christmas Island receives the standard digital television channels from Western Australia. Radio 6RCI is the local radio station, transmitting on 105.3FM from Rocky Point and 102.1FM from Drumsite. Transmissions are in English, Malay and Chinese.

Can you swim on Christmas Island?

Swimming at beaches is only recommended at Flying Fish Cove under calm sea conditions.

How deep is Christmas Island?

Surrounding the island is a narrow tropical reef which plunges steeply to the ocean floor. Within 20 metres of the shoreline, you can find some of the steepest drop-offs in the world reaching a depth of about 500 metres within about 200 metres beyond the edge of the reef.

Why is Christmas Island so famous?

Nicknamed the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, the island is famous for its red crabs, sea birds, whale sharks and spectacular coral reefs. Closer to Asia than mainland Australia, it's home to a captivating mix of cultures and some of the world's most spectacular natural wonders.

Why sell Christmas Island?

Australia wanted control By March 1957, the UK agreed to transfer Christmas Island to Australia in return for a lump sum of $20 million Malayan dollars -- paid to Singapore as compensation for loss of phosphate revenue. This transfer was finalised on June 6, 1957.

Who owns the Christmas Island?

Changing sovereignty As part of the transfer, Australia paid Singapore £2,800,000 as compensation for lost phosphate revenue. Christmas Island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958 – a day still celebrated on the island as Territory Day.