ENDERBURY 
3BSLAM) DESCRIPTION 
lME CONDITION AS 3' BE DIfrICULT TO estimate how long 
it has taken for the south end to change from this chLsitihu disturbed condition 
The central depression occupies about half of the island and contains 
of 
a shallow lagoon ofd-abeut —-—— a-sr several hundred acres The surfce 
of the central depression is covered with Sesuvium in the lower areas and by- 
low grass 
s)^dhd Po rtulaca in the higher areas 
as 
Considerable evidence of the guano digg *© the north 
end of the depression \jsrhere numerous pit® and piles of tailings 
im: 
.lggings 
ears-t-eide- 
Along the east side of the depression the surface is _ A 
&J&-0 Ci VI _ # v * 
a solid layer of beach rock and iUwow s the floor of a 
former channel into the central lagoon primm- r blocked off and filled 
in or the former fringing reef surface How 
k 
incorporated into part of the land area4 In either case an uplifting of several 
was 
feet or lonering of the ocean level a similar amount 4& recuired 
The 
■) 
ies of central degression are very irregular 
Ci i 4 
and numerous areas" x?£ higher ground into the c<sni 
U 
m 
ijalwjad the eastern and southeastern 
s „ These higher areas slope 
rqther steeply to the level of the central depression and there is usually 
- micro cliff of- 
a gil-4^-4we-44e4 eight inches to two feet high wJai^A«*4 
t, | i ^CA 
undercut by erosion i>© fornfthiding places PJr hermit crabs and nesting a, 
► Red-baled Tropicbirds. 
There are several small pools of water b 
! *1 Ks 'rV)/~V-~r r-.-:. 
■ i 
iie main lagoon: but 
b es connected 44 by dry channels* The main lagoon is 
extending from the 
south end aim-eat to within 2o yards of the north end* In addition there are o siw fc 
L r: '4 \ t'**’*j 
15 islets and . s 
these are_— 
cjUfuM 
dn :ia . n-9^4 h—by a long peninsula <f. 
