. The coral reefs of the tropical Pacific. Albatross (Steamer); Coral reefs and islands. 278 "ALBATROSS" TROPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITIOlSr. We made a number of soundings from south of Nurakita towards the Marshall group; ^ these, in addition to those of the " Penguin," clearly show- that the EUice Islands are isolated peaks (PI. 221) rising from considerable depths (from 1500 to over 2000 fathoms), and that the same is the case with the Gilbert Islands (PL 223) j Maiana, Tarawa, and Apaiang however being summits of a secondary plateau with greatest depths of 413 fathoms (PI. 22
. The coral reefs of the tropical Pacific. Albatross (Steamer); Coral reefs and islands. 278 "ALBATROSS" TROPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITIOlSr. We made a number of soundings from south of Nurakita towards the Marshall group; ^ these, in addition to those of the " Penguin," clearly show- that the EUice Islands are isolated peaks (PI. 221) rising from considerable depths (from 1500 to over 2000 fathoms), and that the same is the case with the Gilbert Islands (PL 223) j Maiana, Tarawa, and Apaiang however being summits of a secondary plateau with greatest depths of 413 fathoms (PI. 223). The thirty soundings we made between the atolls of the Marshalls (PI. 225) ^ indicate that they also rise as independent peaks or ridges, with steep slopes, from 2000 to 2500 fathoms. The atolls are not connected by a great plateau or a broad ridge as would seem to be indicated by the trend of the atolls in two parallel lines, forming the two sides of the Marshall Islands group. The parallel chains of atolls of the Marshalls, the Ralick, and the Ratack are really only the summits of isolated peaks rising but a few feet above the sea level. The soundings between Elmore and Namu are not as deep as between other atolls of the group; they indi- cate a connecting ridge with a great- est depth of less than 1100 fathoms (PI. 225). Between Rongelab and Ailinginae even shallower water is indicated. The Gilbert and the Mar- shall Islands are separated by great depths, over 2500 fathoms. South of Nurakita towards Fiji no depths greater than 2000 fathoms have as yet been reported (PL 221). The Marshall, as well as the Ellice and Gilbert Islands, seem to be somewhat higher than the Paumotus; but this difference is only apparent, and is due to the difference in the height of the tides ; it is very small in the Paumotus, while in the former groups it may be five and even seven feet. After leaving Arhno, our soundings indicated that we had struck the. Marshall Island Cakoe,*Wotje. 1 Mem. M
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, marshallislands, outrigger, walap
