Kure Atoll was discovered in 1827 by Stanikowitch captain of the Russian vessel Moller, and named. Between 1876 and 1936 the Australian Copra & Guano Ltd mined guano from the islands. During WW II several military bases were built on the islands, and later on a Loran C station with two 158 m high masts, operated, till 1989, when the station was abandoned. Till today the island is owned by the US Navy. There is a scientific station on Sand Island, used by the University of California, but no permanent population. Landing is only possible by a special permit, while most of the islands are a bird sanctuary. The Kure Atoll is today completely closed for public, in order they became one of the major bases for the extremely rare Hawaii Monk Seal (monachus schauinslandi), a kind of seals living only on some of the outlaying Hawaiian Islands.

Website: http://www.425dxn.org/dc3mf/kure.html