Namonuito Atoll, also called Namonweito, Weito, or Magur Islands, is the largest atoll of the Federated States of Micronesia and of the Caroline Islands with a total area of, unless one considers the still larger Chuuk Lagoon as a type of atoll in an early stage of development. In Micronesia, only Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands is still larger. Namonuito Atoll lies in the northwestern region of Chuuk State, the largest federal state of the Federated States of Micronesia, about northwest of Chuuk Lagoon, also called Onoun. The other islets lie mostly on the northeast side, from Pisaras islet in the southeast corner to Magur islet in the north corner. The 12 islets have an aggregate land area of only. The total population is 1,341. The reef rim of the atoll is submerged for the greater part and is marked by the lighter colour of the water over it. The depths on the reef range from. The reef appears to be in the process of formation and can be crossed at many places. The lagoon is not of uniform depth. Except for a patch, located west of Pisaras island, and a detached reef, with depths of, located about of Pisaras, there appears to be a depth greater than on the scattered lagoon coral heads. Pisaras Island has coconut palms and other trees growing on it. Reefs extend northwest and west-northwest from the island, enclosing a shallow and foul bay. Ulul Island is densely covered with coconut palms. A drying reef fringes the island. There is a radio station on the island. The atoll is home to five of the 40municipalities of Chuuk state, listed in counterclockwise sequence, with population :
History
Namonuito was first visited by Spanish explores on the galleonSan Jerónimo on 5 July1566. At Pisaras Island, the rebel pilot Lope Martín and his gang of mutineers murdered Captain Pero Sánchez Pericón and other expedition members, and were subsequently marooned. Onou Island was later visited by Spanish naval officerJuan Antonio de Ibargoitia commanding the vessel Filipino in 1801 who charted it as Anonima.
