Woleai
Micronesia · Yap · 2 m
Description
Woleai is a double atoll, two rings joined so that the reef traces the figure eight, twenty two islands over eleven kilometres with about a thousand people living on them. In 1944 Japan put six thousand four hundred troops here and built an airfield. Allied aircraft then bombed the atoll for over a year and cut it off entirely, and by the surrender only sixteen hundred and fifty men were left, most of the dead lost to starvation and disease rather than to the raids. The airfield still works, for charters rather than schedules. Pacific Missionary Aviation flies it on demand, and the state field trip ship calls when it calls.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 6 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: January – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- The double atoll that traces a figure eight
- The Japanese airfield and the siege that starved it
- Twenty two islands over eleven kilometres of reef
- Wartime remains along the old runway
- Charter flights rather than a timetable
- Reef diving on walls nobody works
- Snorkelling the twin lagoons
- Coral gardens between the two rings
- Beaches on the outer islets
- An outer island atoll with a thousand people
Getting there
- Airports:
- WOE
- Nearest airports:
- YAP
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry