The Landing

As far as TIGHAR knows, the landing channel blasted out of the reef by the British around the time that the colony was abandoned is in the same location as a natural channel that had been traditionally used to approach Nikumaroro from offshore. It is the narrowest part of the reef and it only makes sense that those who were broadening and deepening the channel would follow the shortest and most natural route to the shoreline.

Another natural feature of the reef is a so-called "boat channel" that runs south out of Tatiman Passage along the village on the ocean shore line. There is a similar channel running north out of the passage along the Nutiran. These natural channels allow small boats to navigate from the landing channel to the village when the tide is high enough.