The next destination of our trip Around the world in 50 experiments is Christmas Island.
Christmas Island is an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, about 1,600 miles northwest of Perth. It is a small island, only 52 square miles and is home to around 2000 people. Most of the inhabitants live in the northern end of the island.
Christmas Island was named by Captain William Mynors, who arrived on the island on Christmas Day 1643.
Christmas Island is home to many incredible species of wildlife, including birds, reptiles and marine life.
Visitors love Christmas Island for its national parks, biodiversity and stunning beauty.
Scientific activities on Christmas Island
Red crab migration
Red crabs are unique to Christmas Island, and more than 120 million of them live in the rainforests for most of the year.
Between October and December each year, between 40 and 50 million red crabs make a dangerous journey from the forest to the ocean to mate and lay eggs.
When the crabs reach the beach, the males dig burrows, where the females join them to mate. After mating, the females stay in the burrow and the males return home. Each female crab lays around 100,000 eggs!
When the moon reaches its last quarter, the crabs enter the sea at high tide and release their eggs.
Scientific activities on Christmas Island
Red Crab Migration STEM Challenge
As the crabs migrate, one of the main dangers is the roads. Special bridges have been built over some major roads to provide a safe route for the crabs.
Use the challenge sheet below to design a bridge or tunnel that will help the red crabs survive the dangerous journey.
More activity ideas
Read more about red crabs and their annual migration.
Don’t forget to download the passport and choose the next destination for your adventure around the world.
Curious facts about Christmas Island
Christmas Island is in the Indian Ocean.
Many languages are spoken on the island, including English, Chinese and Malay.
Christmas Island was named on Christmas Day 1643, but people did not settle there until the late 19th century.
About two-thirds of the island is a national park.
The island has a long coastline, but much of it is inaccessible.
Last updated on November 21, 2023 by Emma Vanstone
#Christmas #Island #Red #Crab #Migration
