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The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or the Leeward Islands are the small islands and atolls in the Hawaiian island chain located northwest (in some cases, far to the northwest) of the islands of Kauai and Niihau. They are part of the U.S. state of Hawaii except Midway Atoll, which is an unorganized, unincorporated United States territory with temporary residential facilities and is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In the state of Hawaii, they are part of the Honolulu County. The United States Census Bureau defines this area as Census Tract 114.98 of Honolulu County. Its total land area is . The Northwestern or Leeward Hawaiian Islands include: *Nihoa (Moku Manu) at *Necker (Mokumanamana) at *French Frigate Shoals (Kānemilohai) at *Gardner Pinnacles (Pūhāhonu) at *Maro Reef (Nalukākala) at *Laysan (Kauō) at *Lisianski (Papaāpoho) at *Pearl and Hermes Atoll (Holoikauaua) at *Midway (Pihemanu) at - not part of the State of Hawaii *Kure (Mokupāpapa) at == The islands == * Nihoa is the youngest of the NWHI, and the tallest, with vertical cliffs. It represents the southwestern part of the island's former volcanic cone. Ancient Hawaiians might have stayed here long-term. * Necker Island is hook shaped and tall at its summit. Barren of vegetation, it was used by Ancient Hawaiians for religious purposes, but not for long-term habitation. * French Frigate Shoals is an atoll, the largest region of coral reefs in Hawaii, at . The atoll is composed of a dozen or so small islands, Tern Island housing an airport and human habitations. * Gardner Pinnacles is made up of two small basalt peaks, the last rocky island in Hawaii. While the island itself is tiny, the surrounding reef is expansive and diverse. * Maro Reef is an extremely fertile reef system that has been described as a "coral garden." * Laysan is a , low, sandy island with a natural lake in its interior, one of only five such lakes in Hawaii. It has arguably the most diverse ecosystem in the NWHI, and hosts about two million seabirds of seventeen species.〔Rauzon, 100〕 * Lisianski Island, only , is geologically akin to Laysan, without the lake. Though the island is slightly less biodiverse, the surrounding reef is very fertile. * Pearl and Hermes Atoll is an atoll very similar to French Frigate Shoals, but with much less dry land. For this reason, it was mostly ignored by guano miners and feather hunters. * Midway Atoll is the most commonly known of the NWHI, and is also the largest. The Battle of Midway was fought here, and the island remains permanently inhabited, albeit by persons who are there in consequence of their service with the United States Government, not an indigenous population. *Circular Kure Atoll contains the Green Island, which used to host a LORAN station and a runway, but these have since been demolished. In terms of biodiversity, Kure is one of the less impressive of the NWHI. 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「Northwestern Hawaiian Islands」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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