Rose Atoll

Rose Atoll lies about two hundred and fifty kilometres east of Tutuila, the southernmost point of the United States and one of the smallest atolls anywhere, with two islets totalling well under a square kilometre inside a reef whose coralline algae give it a distinctly pink colour. It is a national wildlife refuge and a marine national monument, holding nesting seabirds and green turtles, and it is closed to the public entirely.

What you actually see

• The pink reef - coralline algae giving the reef rim its colour.
• The two islets - the tiny land area inside the reef.
• The seabird colonies - the nesting populations the refuge protects.
• The southernmost point - the southern extremity of United States territory.

When to go

Not applicable; the atoll is closed to public access. Research visits require federal permits. There is no visitor season.

Honest expectations

This is closed to visitors: there is no legal public access and no transport. Permits are issued only for research and management. It appears here as a place, not as a destination.

Nearby

Ta'u is west, and Tutuila is far west beyond it.