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GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE OF MIDWAY
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Geography
Some 27 million years ago a volcanic island emerged from the sea over a "hot
spot" in the Pacific plate, located near what is now the site of the Big Island of
Hawaii. As the plate moved northwest, the Hawaiian Island chain was formed, with Midway
and Kure, ending up at the northwestern end. Part of the Hawaiian archipelago, Midway
Atoll lies about 1200 miles northwest of Honolulu, 2800 miles west of San Francisco, and
2200 miles east of Japan -- midway across the Pacific, hence the name. The International
Date Line is 140 miles west of Midway. |
Sand Island Looking to the Southwest. The
spectacular North Beach is prominently seen on the right
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| At one time, Midway was an island about the
size of the present Hawaiian island of Lanai. However, over millions of years, wind, rain
and waves eroded the island, wearing the land down. As the land mass at Midway submerged,
reef-building corals created a ring around the sinking mountain top. Today the basalt of
Midway's volcano is buried under more than 500 feet of calcium carbonate. What remains
above the surface is the coral reef that surrounds the atoll. |
Midway's three sandy islands total approximately 1,600 acres:
- "Sand Island", approximately 1 by 2 miles, is the
largest and the only populated island
- "Eastern Island"
- "Spit Island" are smaller islands, now inhabited
only by wildlife
There are no mountains on Midway, just plenty of wildlife,
trees, vegetation, sand and open space. In the late 1800s, Midway's three islands were
flat expanses of white sand--and very little else. As man began to develop the land, top
soil was imported, ironwood trees were planted as windbreaks, and other plants and animals
were introduced. |
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The early developers the Commercial Pacific Cable Company and Pan American Airlines raised
buildings and introduced some new plant and animal species, but the major developer of
Midway Atoll was the U.S. Navy. It dredged the channel between Eastern and Sand islands in
1938 and, soon after, began construction of its Naval Air Station on Eastern Island.
Shifting sands eventually prompted the Naval Base to be relocated to Sand Island. With the
recent closure of the Naval Air Facility and Midway's conversion to a National Wildlife
Refuge, the landscape has changed again. Many of the buildings have been removed, as they
are no longer required (at one time, the Navy housed 5,000 people at Midway), some of the
imported species have been removed, and much of the land is being returned back to a more
natural state. |
A fluffy cumulus cloud guards the atoll on a warm September day (Photo taken from about
1/4 mile offshore)
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Climate
Midway has a sub-tropical climate that is
moderated by prevailing easterly winds. There are two distinguishable seasons at Midway:
summer and winter. Temperatures in the summer, approximately May to October, are typically
warm, with sunny days and cooler nights. Air temperatures at this time of year usually
range between 70 to 85 degrees. During winter months, November to April, temperatures
average in the 60s and can sometimes dip into the 50s. Winter days are more likely to
bring rain and wind also, making it cold enough to require a warm sweater or jacket. The
lowest and highest temperatures recorded at Midway are 54 and 92 degrees. Water
temperatures at Midway range from the mid-60s in winter to the high-70s during summer
months. Average annual rainfall is 42 inches. Although rainfall is generally heavier
during winter months, it can rain at any time of the year on Midway. A rain slicker is
useful for visitors throughout the year, as the primary modes of transportation on Midway
are walking and bicycling. |
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If
you have questions about Midway or would like to make reservations, please call us toll
free at 1-888-BIG-ULUA or email us at destpacific@sportfishhawaii.com and we will be happy to help.
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