Christmas Island (Kiritimati Island), the largest atoll in the Pacific Ocean, is the centerpiece of this low-oblique, northeast-looking photograph. The atoll covers 234 square miles (606 square kilometers), of which 94 square miles (243 square kilometers) are land. Christmas Island, one of the Line Islands, is part of the British Gilbert Islands discovered by Captain James Cook in 1777. The majority of Christmas Island inhabitants work on coconut plantations and in copra production. The island’s major airbase is on the northeast side of the island. A few meteorological research stations are scattered throughout the island. Nuclear tests were conducted on Christmas Island by the British in 1957 and 1958 and by the United States in 1962.