An Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean known for its annual mass migration of red crabs.
Geography
Christmas Island is the summit of a submarine mountain, with limestone cliffs rising from the sea to a central plateau. It lies roughly 350 km south of Java and about 1,550 km northwest of mainland Australia.
Wildlife
The island is home to the famous red crab migration, during which an estimated 40 to 50 million crabs move from the rainforest to the coast to spawn each year, typically in October or November. Roads are closed to vehicles to protect the crabs.
History
British captain William Mynors named the island after sighting it on Christmas Day 1643. Phosphate mining, which began in 1899, supported the early settlement.
Find more islands by letter
Christmas Island starts with C and ends with D. Browse other islands along the same letter.
Islands that contain a letter from "Christmas Island":