Ralik – The Marshall Islands' chain of the setting sun
The Ralik Chain forms the western half of the Marshall Islands, and its Marshallese name means "sunset". For many centuries Marshallese navigators sailed between its scattered atolls with remarkable skill, reading waves and currents to find their way across the open ocean. Its atolls include Kwajalein as well as Bikini and Enewetak, where nuclear weapons tests were carried out in the mid-twentieth century – a painful chapter whose effects are still remembered by displaced communities today.
In 1999 the Ralik islands had nearly 20,000 inhabitants, and their communities continue to preserve traditional culture, family ties and island life. Do you have stories, photos or memories from the Ralik atolls? Please share them with our community!