We just launched a set of images from the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey program which took place in the 1960s/early 1970s and sought to learn about plants and animals occurring on the islands, the seasonal variations in their numbers and reproductive activities, and the distribution and population of the pelagic birds of that area. The images were taken on Sand and Johnston Islands from various vantage points, including from LORAN (Long Range Navigation) towers. Since it was the first time I had heard of a LORAN tower, I did a little digging and found out they are radio towers which helped ships to navigate. They are a thing of the past since they have been replaced by GPS and satellite systems. They did offer up some pretty stunning views from this expedition, however. Enjoy the slideshow!
Related Collections
- Record Unit 245 - National Museum of Natural History, Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program, Records, circa 1961-1973, with data from 1923, Smithsonian Institution Archives
- LORAN images on Flickr Commons.
Related Resources
- It’s a (Sea) Bird, The Bigger Picture blog, Smithsonian Institution Archives
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