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Midway refuge is home to 2 million birds, including the world's largest population of Laysan albatrosses, or "gooney birds."
Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles and spinner dolphins frequent Midway's crystal blue lagoon.
Midway became an "overlay" refuge in 1988, while still under the primary jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy. With the closure of Naval Air Facility Midway Island in 1993, there began a transition from bullets to birds, a change in mission from national defense to wildlife conservation.
The waters surrounding Midway have been closed to commercial fishing for over 60 years, which has protected more than 260 species of coral, fish and other marine life.
Midway, discovered in 1859, has a rich history. On July 4, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt sent the first around-the-world telegraph message with Midway as the vital link. He recognized Midway's strategic importance both as a wildlife sanctuary and a military outpost.
Because of its pivotal role in naval history during World War II at the Battle of Midway, the atoll is also recognized as the National Memorial to the Battle of Midway.
Because of Midway Atoll's remote location in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, it can only be reached by air, or by sailboats under a special use permit system.
Outdoor Activities |
