Gardner Pinnacles
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The Gardner Pinnacles (Hawaiian: Pūhāhonu) are two barren rock outcrops surrounded by a reef and located 946 km (588 miles) northwest of Honolulu in the Hawaiian Islands at . The total area of the two small islets—remnants of an ancient volcano—is 5 acres (20,000 m²), making the Gardner Pinnacles the smallest island the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with a still commanding height of 170 feet. The surrounding reef has an area in excess of 600,000 acres (2,400 km²).
Gardner Pinnacles was first discovered on June 2, 1820 by the American whaler Maro commanded by Captain Joseph Allen.
The Gardner Pinnacles are home to some species of fish not found anywhere else in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and have more species of coral than two rocky neighbors to the south, Necker Island and Nihoa. Numerous insects live on the island, and a researcher claims to have found two new species of spiders here.
Interesting to note is that since this is part of a wildlife refuge, it is off limits to even the military, who made an unauthorized entrance once to blow off the tip of the outcrop. This was to create an emergency helicopter landing spot. In the Hawaiian Archipelago, adjacent islands/reefs are French Frigate Shoals to the southeast, and Laysan to the northwest.
[edit] References and External links
- Gardner Pinnacles Islands of the Hawaiian Chain
- Gardner Pinnacles ~ Bishop Museum
- Quick Facts on the Gardner Pinnacles from the PBS Ocean Adventures site
