Kwaj has a very close tie to World War II. The Marshalls were under German control until they were handed over to the Japanese. In WWII, US forces fought to take control of Pacific islands, including Kwajalein. The battle to take Kwajalein involved one of the heaviest bombings of the war; over 15,000 tons of ammunition was dropped onto the island. It then took 4 days for the US troops to move in.
The original Kwajalein island is smaller than it is today. During the Japanese and US occupation, they dug and/or bombed holes in the coral reef surrounding the island. They then used this material to extend the length of the island to almost 3 miles long.
At low tide, these tide pools are accessible. The inside of the pools are often home to sharks and other sea creatures that get trapped as the tide rolls out. This give you the chance to take a look at some animals that are otherwise hard to find. Low tide exposes some of the reef and can be explored.
Clemson Geopaths Intern