Where Is Swains Island?

Swains Island is a coral island or atoll situated in the South Pacific Ocean; it is a part of the Tokelau group of islands which are governed by New Zealand though the island itself is administered by the US territory of American Samoa making the island a part of the United States.

The total surface area of the island is about 1.8 sq km while the population of the island is 37 inhabiting the village of Tualaga situated on the western part of the island. The Swains atoll is notable on account of its geography as the island encircling the lagoon forms a complete circle being unbroken at any place; the lagoon does not have any channels connecting it with the sea water and has formed a fresh water lake as a result of accumulation of rain water.

The first European to sight the islands is believed to be the famous Portuguese explorer; the island is believed to have been named as Swains Island by an American Henry Hudson while in 1856 a coconut plantation was established on the island by Eli Hutchinson Jennings an American citizen who claimed ownership rights of the island; the island became a part of American Samoa in March 1926.

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