Message in a Bottle from 1998 Found on Remote Pacific Atoll
A remarkable discovery has been made on the uninhabited Bird Island, part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. A message in a bottle, tossed into the Pacific Ocean over two decades ago, has been found. The bottle acted as a time capsule, carrying a note from a kindergarten class in North Bend, Washington, dated June 15, 1998.
The bottle's journey was a long one. It was sent out during the 1998 Pacific Cup race by the husband of a teacher, Mary-Lee Johnson. The letter was dropped into the ocean between Hawaiʻi and San Francisco. The North Pacific Gyre carried the bottle across the vast expanse of the Pacific, eventually depositing it on Bird Island.
The atoll, which serves as a funnel for marine debris, welcomed the bottle along with ghost nets and plastics. It is littered with such debris, highlighting the pressing issue of ocean pollution. The atoll is uninhabited for most of the year, making the discovery all the more surprising.
The finder of the bottle was able to trace its origins back to Mary-Lee Johnson, who is now retired but continues to volunteer in education. The bottle's discovery serves as a poignant reminder of the power of the ocean currents and the impact of human activity on our marine environments. It also offers a unique connection across time and distance, from a kindergarten class in Washington to an uninhabited atoll in the Pacific.
