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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 10/15/2009 : 02:11:11
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What on Earth? # 91: Insular
Here's an island that was discovered only in fairly recent colonial times. For such a tiny island, it has a relatively turbulent history.
For one point per question:
1. What's the name of the island?
2. What nation controls it?
3. Who named the island?
Click for larger version
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2009 : 20:18:34 [Permalink]
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Hint #1: This little island has its own by-god flag (apparently showing a pug dog chasing a bird):
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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AnthroGeek
New Member
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2009 : 20:52:30 [Permalink]
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| That is Christmas Island and a territory of Australia. It was named by Captain William Mynors. |
A series of fun one-liners about various pseudoscientific claims and, even better, a concise description of the scientific method - Ken Feder on Skeptic Friends Network from "Frauds, Myths and Mysteries" |
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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 01:58:52 [Permalink]
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No points for me but would like to add that its known for its annual red crab mass migration and its WWII history was, as HalfMooner put it, "turbulent." |
Diversity, independence, innovation and imagination are progressive concepts ultimately alien to the conservative mind.
"TAX AND SPEND" IS GOOD! (TAX: Wealthy corporations who won't go poor even after taxes. SPEND: On public works programs, education, the environment, improvements.) |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 02:27:03 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by AnthroGeek
That is Christmas Island and a territory of Australia. It was named by Captain William Mynors.
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Correct for three points, AnthroGeek!
Here's Wikipedia's article on Christmas Island (not to be confused with another Christmas Island, Kiritimati in the Pacific).
The standings:- Hal, 40 points
- steinhenge, 24 points
- Dave W., 8 points
- bngbuck, 7 points
- AnthroGeek, 6 points
- Hawks, 5.5 points
- lorddix, 4 points
- Randy, 3 points
- R.Wreck, 3 points
- sailinsoul, 3 points
- Simon, 2 points
- Chippewa, 1 point
(Ties are listed in alphabetical order.) |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 10/16/2009 02:27:49 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 03:01:50 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Chippewa
No points for me but would like to add that its known for its annual red crab mass migration and its WWII history was, as HalfMooner put it, "turbulent."
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Quite true, per Wiki:From the outbreak of war in South East Asia in December 1941, Christmas Island was a target for Japanese occupation because of its rich phosphate deposits. A naval gun was installed under a British officer and four NCOs supported by Indian soldiers. The first attack was by a Japanese submarine that torpedoed a Norwegian vessel, the Eidsvold, loading phosphate in Flying Fish Cove. This was on 21 January 1942. The vessel drifted and eventually sank off West White Beach. 50 European and Asian staff and their families were evacuated to Perth. In late February and early March 1942, two aerial bombing raids and shelling from the sea led the District Officer to hoist the white flag. After the Japanese naval group sailed away the British officer raised the Union Jack once more. During the night of 10-11 March a mutiny of the Indian troops, abetted by the Sikh policemen, led to the murder of the five British soldiers and the imprisonment of the remaining 21 Europeans. On 31 March a Japanese fleet of 9 vessels arrived and the Island was surrendered. A naval brigade, phosphate engineers, and 700 marines came ashore and rounded up the workforce, most of whom had fled to the jungle. Sabotaged equipment was repaired and preparations were made to resume the mining and export of phosphate.
Isolated acts of sabotage and the torpedoing of the Nissei Maru at the wharf on 17 November 1942 meant that only small amounts of phosphate were exported to Japan during the occupation. In November 1943, over 60% of the Island's population was evacuated to Surabayan prison camps, leaving of total population of just under 500 Chinese and Malays and 15 Japanese to survive as best they could. In October 1945 HMS Rother reoccupied Christmas Island. |
And here's a video showing the crab migrations.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
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WoE # 91: Insular
