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Nikumaroro

Nikumaroro, previously known as Kemins Island or Gardner Island, is a part of the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati, in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a remote, elongated, triangular coral atoll with profuse vegetation and a large central marine lagoon. Nikumaroro is about long by wide. Although occupied at various times during the past, the island is uninhabited today. Kiribati declared the Phoenix Islands Protected Area in 2006, with the park being expanded in 2008. The 425,300-km 2 (164,200-mi 2 ) marine reserve contains eight coral atolls including Nikumaroro. Nikumaroro has notably been the focus of considerable speculation and exploration as a possible location where pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan might have landed in July 1937 when they vanished during their ill-fated flight to circumnavigate the globe. However, to date, although trace artifactual and osteological evidence more consistent with the presence of a Euro-American woman castaway on the island than with other known prior inhabitants, or prior castaways, has emerged, no conclusive evidence of her plane or of Earhart's presence specifically has been found on or in the vicinity of the island.

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Article summary

Nikumaroro, previously known as Kemins Island or Gardner Island, is a part of the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati, in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a remote, elongated, triangular coral atoll with profuse vegetation and a large central marine lagoon. Nikumaroro is about long by wide. Although occupied at various times during the past, the island is uninhabited today. Kiribati declared the Phoenix Islands Protected Area in 2006, with the park being expanded in 2008. The 425,300-km 2 (164,200-mi 2 ) marine reserve contains eight coral atolls including Nikumaroro. Nikumaroro has notably been the focus of considerable speculation and exploration as a possible location where pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan might have landed in July 1937 when they vanished during their ill-fated flight to circumnavigate the globe. However, to date, although trace artifactual and osteological evidence more consistent with the presence of a Euro-American woman castaway on the island than with other known prior inhabitants, or prior castaways, has emerged, no conclusive evidence of her plane or of Earhart's presence specifically has been found on or in the vicinity of the island.

Key claims

  1. date of death: 1941 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of foundation: 1000 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  3. members: 1938, members — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of death is "1941". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of foundation is "1000". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. The record states that the members is "1938, members". What evidence would count against this claim?
  5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378366362

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.