Why are Marshall Islands known as 'Bikini Atoll'?

Commodore Ben H Wyatt, the military governor of the Marshall Islands - to which Bikini belongs - travelled to Bikini to address this very dilemma in February 1946. read more

The Bikini Atoll is only one atoll in the Marshall Islands; it’s not the name for the entire country. As the Wikipedia article in the source explains, the name ‘Bikini’ comes from the Marshallese word ‘Pikinni’ meaning ‘coconut place’ or ‘surface of coconuts’. read more

Within Bikini Atoll, Bikini, Eneu, Namu and Enidrik islands comprise just over 70% of the land area. Bikini and Eneu are the only islands of the atoll that hosted a permanent population. Bikini Island is the northeastern most and largest islet. Before World War II, the atoll was known by its German name, Eschscholtz Atoll. read more

The Marshall Islands are marking 60 years since the devastating US hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, with exiled islanders saying they are too fearful to ever go back because of nuclear contamination. read more