Bikar
- ISS006-E-39646
- 17 March 2003
- 20:11 UTC
Bikar is one of the smallest atolls of the Marshall Islands, being located at the northern end of the Ratak Chain, around 100 km northeast from Utirik — making it the second northernmost island of the Marshall Islands. The approximately oval-shaped atoll measures up to 13 km north to south and up to 8 km across. Its 5 islets (Bikar, Jabwelo, Almani, Jabwelo and Jaboero) have a combined land area of less than 0.5 km² and enclose a shallow lagoon of 37 km². The surrounding reef is continuous except for one narrow pass located on the western side.
Due to its relative isolation from the main islands in the group, Bikar has a undisturbed flora and fauna that has been allowed to exist in a relatively pristine condition. Vegetation consists of atoll forest with Pandanus tectorius, Lepturus repens, Cocos nucifera, Boerhavia repens, Pisonia grandis, Portulaca lutea, Triumfetta procumbens, Tournefortia argentea and Scaevola sericea, as well as areas of atoll scrub and vines. The smallest islet (Jaboero) is unvegetated, being a small sand and shingle cay.
Bikar was once a major seabird nesting site, but although numbers have declined significantly in recent years it still remains regionally important. Bikar is also a major nesting site for the endangered Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas).
image: earth sciences and image analysis laboratory, nasa johnson space center
