s. STANDEN 
page i 
Maidon Island Discription 
Maldon Island (4 o 00'Sduth and 154°56'Wes t) 
is located m miles S5W of Christmas Island and 
103 miles north of Starbuck Island. It is 5% 1/3 
miles E st to west and maries from 1 to 4# rales in 
P 
width. ' Total area is about 11 square miles or 
about twice that of Starbuck Island. More ttaan 
♦ 
a third of this area is covered by lagoon. The 
isl nd is triangular having ^ E^st, West, and South 
Points. 
Although flat Maldon has a very priminent 30* 
beach crest on the north shore. Behind this crest 
is a low ar^a which is propably flooded with water 
when large waves cross the beach. This beach 
crest is sandy and about 200 yards wide. The 
eastern shore is wide and rock^y. 
The island is dry but there are several Pisonia 
k 
trees growing in clumps along the west shore. 
They are not doing too well but appear to be 
holding their own. There are no other trees on h 
the island. Low grasses are common and Sesuvium 
covers the drying flats around the lagoon. 
There are no people on Maldon now. Ther old 
settlement was at SW Point where the tramway ended. 
Pemains of the old tram can be seen around the enti 
parimeter of the island. Newer buildings were 
construsted by AeC in 1962. These woodan 
structures are still in fairly good shape. 
The most suitable landing is on the western sh 
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shore in the lee of the island 
