DRAFT 
BSE 1 
RODERT S. STAN DEN 
VOSTOK ISLAND DESCRIPTION 
Vostok Island is a small, low , triangular piece 
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of land 86 miles NNW of Flint Ilsand, its 1 nearest 
neighbor. Situated 10°06 1 South and 153°23 f West 
it is less than >£ mile wide and 600 to200 yards 
wide, small enough to walk around in 45 minutes. 
Viewed from a ship it is an unusual sight. The 
pure stand of Pisonia trees forms a distinctive 
sillouette on the horizon. The forest is just as 
dense as it appears form off shore * completely 
shading out all plants beneath. It is easy to 
walk under the trees once you get away from the 
edge of the island. The trees cover the whole 
island save some 50 yards of steep beach on the 
west side and about 100 yards/ of elevated flat bea 
ch on the east side. '4e thicck growth is broken 
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in several places on the interior of lie island 
by large bare areas with absolutely no vegetation 
at all. The se areas appear to be poorly drained 
and never // extend past the beach cres ^ w hich 
is just inside the edge of the trees on Vos£ok. 
It is possible that at times of high surf water may 
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override the beach crest and be trapped in these 
low lying areas in the interior. The beach crest 
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drains rapidly and the trees are not harmed. In th 
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interior the water stands and the trees have either 
been killed or never had a chance to grow. 
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