Bikini Atoll is an atoll in the Marshall Islands which consists of 23 islands totaling 3.4sqmi surrounding a deep 229.4sqmi central lagoon. It is at the northern end of the Ralik Chain, approximately 87km northwest of Ailinginae Atoll and 850km northwest of Majuro. Within Bikini Atoll, Bikini, Eneu, Nam, and Enidrik islands comprise just over 70% of the land area. Bikini and Eneu are the only islands of the atoll that hosted a permanent population. Bikini Island is the northeastern most and largest islet. Before World War II, the atoll was known by its German name, Eschscholtz Atoll.