northwest end of the atoll, were reduced to mere sand dunes,
no Other visible damages or profound mutations to the flora and
fauna are evident.
:
Sea life in the lagoon is plentiful and shows no sign of
adverse effects from the nuclear detonations in the atoll.
The
absence of man for almost two decades has forced the increase
of reef fish in the lagoon in substantial numbers.
of reef fish, turtles,
Many schools
shell fish, and pelagic fish are commonly
seen in the lagoon and along the shore lines.
Bikini Island
Bikini Island,
the major population center,
is the largest
among the 36 islands making up the atoll and is situated on the
northeast corner of the atoll.
Most of the island is now
covered with thick stands of wild vegetation that cause some
aifficulty to traverse the interior.
The strand vegetation con-
‘sists of Scaevola, Messerschmidia, and some Guettarda, with
Pluchea, Dodonea, Leucaena, Cordia, Pisonia, Morinda, and
Hernandia making up the interior vegetation.
Thick growth of
Clerodendrum are found in the southern portion of the island.
Ground cover consists principally of Fimbristylis,
Lepturus,
yenartnent
Energy
Triumfetta, Ipomoa, Boerhaavia, and Portuluca.
Historian’s Office
ARCHIVES ”
The nuclear blasts have destroyed the former coconut groves
and only a few subsistence crops, mainly pandarus and few arrowroot, Tacca leontopetaloides, are found growing among the wild
vegetation.
The few coconuts found in the interior ef the island.