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Bikenibeu is a settlement in Kiribati. It is located close to the southeastern corner of the Tarawa atoll, part of the island country of Kiribati. It is part of a nearly continuous chain of settlements along the islands of South Tarawa, which are now linked by causeways. The low-lying atoll is vulnerable to sea level rise. Rapid population growth has caused some environmental problems. Kiribati's main government high school, King George V and Elaine Bernachi School, is located in Bikenibeu, as well as the Ministries of Environment and Education. ==Location== Bikenibeu is one of the three main urban centers in South Tarawa, the others being Betio and Bairiki.〔 Starting in 1963, causeways began to be built between the islands of the atoll to make communications easier. The causeways connected Bairiki to Bikenibeu by 1963, and extended from Bikenibeu to Bonriki by 1964, when flights began from the new airport to Fiji. Bikenibeu island lies between the Tarawa Lagoon to the north, with a maximum depth of , and the Pacific ocean to the south, with a depth of up to . The island has been built from sediments from the lagoon. The process of soil accumulation is driven by the dominant easterly trade winds, and can be reversed during extended periods of westerly winds during El Niño–Southern Oscillations. Bikenibeu is an average of above sea level on the ocean side, and at the lagoon side. Tidal flats on the ocean side extend for . ACLR (Accelerated Sea-Level Rise) is a serious concern. In a scenario where a sea level rise of occurs, 71% of Bikenibeu would be flooded by a spring high tide. With a rise of the tide would flood the entire island. As of 2000 the lagoon away from the shore was still relatively free of human contaminants. However, the causeways linking the islands of South Tarawa have contributed to increasing pollution in the lagoon. The coral reefs provide natural protection to the coastline, important if sea levels rise. A 2000 report noted large numbers of dead corals on the reef flats on the ocean side, apparently due to past discharges of sewerage. The causeways and land reclamation have also affected the reef environment. Other environmental problems caused by the growing population include over-fishing and reduction of useful plants and trees such as coconuts. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bikenibeu」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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