Wreck of the Kawanishi ‘Emily’ flying boat. (Image: Getty)
At the bottom of its crystal clear waters, hides the remains of a dark past. Looking at the white sand, palm trees and waters of these islands, it is hard to imagine that below the surface lies such a violent history. Chuuk Lagoon is home to the largest naval cemetery with sunken Japanese ships, aircraft, gas masks, bullets, and skulls from World War II.
Formerly known as Truk Atoll, the lagoon is part of Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is enclosed by a protective barrier reef that spans 140 miles. During World War II, Chuuk Lagoon was a key naval base for the Empire of Japan in the South Pacific.
:
Skulls, shipwrecks and bullets are among the things lying at the bottom of the lagoon. (Image: Getty)
In February 1944, during the US attack on the Japanese naval base, known as Operation Hailstone, over 4,500 Japanese fighters were killed, and around 60 ships, including destroyers, patrol vessels, and submarines, as well as 250 planes were sunk.
The attack was a significant blow to Japan’s naval strength in the Pacific, weakening the heavily fortified base that had been a major threat to US supply lines.
In June 1945, the British Pacific Fleet also launched an airstrike on Chuuk Lagoon as part of Operation Inmate.
Many of these wrecks, including the Japanese freighter Kiyosumi Maru, now rest in the lagoon’s waters.
Don’t miss… [REPORT] [EXPLAINER]
The lagoon from above. (Image: Getty)
The lagoon is the world’s largest underwater graveyard. (Image: Getty)
Divers have found porcelain china from the Fujikawa Maru, the skulls of fallen sailors, a truck, bullets, eerie gas masks and even personal belongings like photographs and shoes.
Corals and fish move around the historic wrecks often visited by scuba divers who dare to venture into the huge underwater graveyard.
However, due to their remote location and the lack of direct international flights, these Pacific islands have remained largely untouched by mass tourism.