Ratak

Ratak is one of the two principal island chains of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, known as the eastern or ‘sunrise’ chain. It comprises multiple atolls and islands that form the eastern half of the nation’s island groups.

The chain includes populated atolls with villages, government centres and airstrips, as well as sparsely inhabited outer atolls. Traditional Marshallese culture and ocean-oriented lifestyles remain strong across the inhabited islands, and lagoon and reef environments are central to daily life.

The islands of the Ratak chain share the broader historical experiences of the Marshall Islands, including indigenous navigation and settlement, colonial administrations in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the post-war development of the independent republic. Majuro, within the Ratak chain, functions as the national capital.

Ratak extends through the central Pacific Ocean as the eastern chain of the Marshall Islands archipelago. It lies to the east of the parallel Ralik Chain and includes low-lying coral atolls dispersed across a broad area of ocean.

• Name and position: Ratak is the eastern of the two main island chains of the Marshall Islands; the name means "sunrise" in the Marshallese language.
• Includes Majuro: The chain includes the national capital, Majuro, and other inhabited atolls and islands that are political and cultural centres for the country.