Christmas Island

The Territory of Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean with an area of 135 square kilometers. It is approximately 350 kilometers south of Java and Sumatra and 1,550 kilometers north-west of the Australian mainland. The island was discovered by Captain William Mynors on Christmas Day in 1643. The first European to sight the island was Richard Rowe in 1615. The island was first settled in the late 19th century after phosphate deposits were found, and it was annexed by Britain in 1888. Christmas Island was invaded by the Japanese in 1942 to secure its phosphate deposits and was transferred from Singapore to Australia in 1958. The island's population as of 2021 was 1,692 residents, with the majority living in settlements on the northern edge of the island. The main settlement is Flying Fish Cove.learn more on wikipedia