NASA MODIS Image of the Day: June 16, 2009 - Kiritimati (Christmas Island)

Kiritimati Island, a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands, has a large infilled lagoon that gives it the largest land area (125 square miles, 321 square km) of any atoll in the world.It is shown in this image captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite on June 9, 2009. Captain Cook named the atoll Christmas Island when he arrived on Christmas Eve in 1777. The name "Kiritimati" is