tsafun

Tsafun is a small, uninhabited coral island located in the central Pacific Ocean, forming part of the Marshall Islands archipelago. Situated approximately 250 kilometres northeast of the main atoll of Majuro, the island encompasses roughly 0.6 square kilometres of land area and rises no more than three metres above sea level. The island’s terrain consists predominantly of low‑lying limestone platform, scattered with pockets of sand and occasional stands of native coastal vegetation, such as beach morning‑glory (Ipomoea pes‑caprae) and seawort (Suaeda spp.).

Because Tsafun lacks permanent human settlement, it has remained relatively undisturbed, providing a nesting site for several seabird species, including the brown noddy (Anous stolidus) and the sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus). The surrounding reef supports a diverse assemblage of marine life, featuring corals, reef fishes, and occasional migratory turtles that use the beaches for arribada nesting events. Occasional scientific expeditions have documented the presence of endemic invertebrates and the island’s role in regional nutrient cycling.

Historically, Tsafun was recorded on early 19th‑century European charts as a navigational waypoint for whaling vessels traversing the Pacific. Today, the island is administered by the Marshall Islands government and is listed among protected marine areas, subject to conservation regulations that limit landing and resource extraction to preserve its ecological integrity.