Midway: 3 Facts to Know Today

Midway is know for being the site of one of the most significant battles of WW2. Many scholars have agreed this was the turning point of the campaign for dominance in the Pacific Ocean. However, nearly 80 years after the battle, much has changed. Here are 3 facts about Midway that you should know.

Midway is mostly vacant now

The former naval facility once housed more than 5,000 people. However, it was closed in 1993 and only around 40 people live there now. This is comprised of preservation staff members, contractors and conservationists. There is a rich diversity of wildlife that zoologist study in the region. Although the massive albatrosses are cool to look at, there isn't much else to do there.

The last American territory to end the day

The Midway Atoll is a mere 140 nautical miles east of the International Dateline. Consequently, it is the last U.S. territory to see the clock hit midnight each day. The Kure Atoll (also a US Territory), is only 48 nautical miles east of the dateline, but the way the time zones were drawn are a different matter. The lines actually place Kure in a different time zone. As a result, it is one hour ahead of Midway.

Emergency landing spot

Midway is a little over a thousand miles away from Pearl Harbor, but it is one of the designated emergency landing spots in the Pacific. In 2015, a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 fighter made an emergency landing on the atoll. Additionally, there have been three commercial transports that have made landings there in the last 15 years. Two of which had over 300 passengers. American pilots traveling to and from places, such as Guam, all know about the runway at Midway. Keeping it in mind in case of an emergency.What historical battle site should we cover next? Sound off in the comments below!