Starbuck island is a small island located in Kiribati, near Tahiti. It was discovered by a whaling ship in the 19th century and named after its captain, Valentine Starbuck. The main item of importance on the island is an abundance of bat guano. It also has two coral reefs off its shore and has been a trap for 3 shipwrecks since its discovery.
Why it is important:
Herman Melville, in his novel Moby Dick, named Starbuck the first mate after the island. Why would Melville think of Starbuck island when writing his masterpiece? Because the shape of Starbuck island closely resembles a whale.