Born as a massive submarine volcano, growing thousands of metres to the ocean surface, encrusted, polyp by polyp, by stony coral, repeatedly submerged and uplifted, colonised by an unusual and unique array of plants and animals, and continuing on a slow slide towards an inevitable dive into the Java Trench, Christmas Island has provided a setting for the dynamic interplays of nature over millions of years.” pp. 133 illusts #0218