The Wonders of Christmas Island: A Brief Introduction to Its Unique Flora and Fauna

Christmas Island is an island in the Indian Ocean that belongs to Australia. It was first sighted by Europeans in 1615, but not named until 1643 by Captain William Mynors, who saw it on Christmas Day. The island is of volcanic origin and has a rich biodiversity.

It was first settled in the late 19th century, after the discovery of phosphate deposits, which became the main economic activity for the next 100 years. The island has a diverse population of people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, including Chinese, Malay, European and Australian. The island is also known for its annual red crab migration, which attracts many visitors and researchers.

See Population, Official Language And More…

• Christmas Island is an island in the Indian Ocean that belongs to Australia.
• It was first sighted by European explorers in the 17th century but remained uninhabited until the late 19th century.
• The island was named by Captain William Mynors of the British East India Company, who saw it on Christmas Day in 1643.
• The island’s main attraction was its rich deposits of phosphate, which were discovered in 1887 by a British expedition.
• The island was annexed by Britain in 1888 and administered by the British Phosphate Commission, which exploited the phosphate resources and brought workers from China, Malaysia and Singapore.
• The island was occupied by Japan during World War II and suffered heavy bombing by Allied forces.
• After the war, the island was returned to British control and became part of the Colony of Singapore in 1958.
• In 1958, the islanders voted to join Australia rather than Malaysia, and the island became an Australian territory in 1958.
• The island’s population is mainly composed of descendants of the original phosphate workers, who have created a diverse and multicultural society.
• The island is also home to a unique and endemic flora and fauna, which are protected by the Christmas Island National Park.