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Starbuck Island (or Volunteer Island) is an uninhabited coral atoll in the central Pacific, and is part of the Central Line Islands of Kiribati. Former names include "Barren Island", "Coral Queen Island", "Hero Island", "Low Island", and "Starve Island". ==Geography, flora and fauna== Located at , and measuring 8.9 km east-to-west and 3.5 km north-to-south, Starbuck Island has a land area of 1,620 hectares.〔http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wetlands/starbuck.htm. Retrieved on 7 July 2008.〕 It is a low, dry, coral limestone island with a steep beach backed by a 6-8 meter high bank composed of large coral fragments. Several hypersaline lagoons form on the island's eastern side. These occasionally dry up, and are said to be dangerous to approach: one worker during the island's guano-mining days sank up to his neck in salty mud before being rescued.〔http://www.janeresture.com/kiribati_line/starbuck.htm. Retrieved on 7 July 2008.〕 There is no freshwater on the island, which is one of the drier atolls in the Line Island group. Annual yearly rainfall averages approximately 800 mm.〔 Little vegetation exists on Starbuck; stunted ''Sida fallax'' scrub and low herbs and grasses predominate, with a few ''Cordia subcordata'' bushes and bunch grass rounding out the flora. Recent photos showed a few palm trees growing near the center of the island.〔http://www.theoceanadventure.com/NemoIE03/DAY18Nemo.html. Retrieved 10 July 2008.〕 The island boasts a large colony of sooty terns, estimated at 1.5 million pairs, together with Polynesian rats, feral cats, green turtles, and around fifteen other species of seabirds.〔 Other accounts estimate the sooty tern population to be as high as three to six million birds. The island was noted for the unbearable screaming of seabirds, extreme heat and blinding sunlight. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Starbuck Island」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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