THE MOST AMAZING ATOLLS IN THE WORLD
Added on: 22nd Apr 2016
TAKAPOTO, FRENCH POLYNESIA
Measuring 20 km by 7 km (12 mi by 4 mi), Takapoto is an atoll
found in the Tuamoto atoll group in French Polynesia. Discovered
by a Dutch mariner Jacob Le Maire in 1616, the atoll is now
home to about 380 people.
AITUTAKI, COOK ISLANDS
Populated by approximately 2,000 people, Aitutaki is the second
most visited island of the Cook Islands. Spared from mass tourism,
the atoll is famous for its turquoise central lagoon and
picturesque palm-fringed beaches.
ULITHI, CAROLINE ISLANDS
A part of the Federated States of Micronesia, Ulithi is an atoll
consisting of 40 islets surrounding one of the largest lagoons
in the world. The atoll was a major staging area for the U.S. Navy
in the WWII. Several sunken warships still rest at the bottom
of the lagoon.
TUBBATAHA, PHILIPPINES
Located in the middle of Sulu Sea, Tubbataha is a marine and
bird sanctuary consisting of two large atolls – North Atoll and
South Atoll. The protected area boasts remarkable biodiversity
containing 75% of described coral species and 40% of
world’s reef fish.
TARAWA, KIRIBATI
Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati in the
central Pacific Ocean. Home to almost 60,000 people, the atoll
has a wide reef abundant in fish and a large lagoon spanning
over 500 sq. km (200 sq. mi).
TIKEHAU, FRENCH POLYNESIA
Located 340 km (210 mi) northeast of Tahiti in the Tuamotu Islands,
Tikehau is an oval-shaped atoll and a touristic destination popular
for its pink sand beaches fringed with coconut palms and
stunning marine fauna and flora.
MAAFUSHI, MALDIVES
Part of the Kaafu Atoll, Maafushi is one of the inhabited islands of the
Maldives. The atoll was heavily damaged by a tsunami in 2004 but
it quickly recovered. These days, Maafushi boasts a thriving local
economy based on fishing and tourism.
ST. FRANCOIS ATOLL, SEYCHELLES
Consisting of two islands St. François and Bijoutier Island, St. Francois
Atoll is an uninhabited atoll in the western Indian Ocean. The atoll
is home to numerous bird species including black-naped tern,
whimbrel, ruddy turnstone, grey plover etc.
RANGIROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA
One of the largest atolls in the world, Rangiroa consists of about
415 tiny islets and sandbars comprising a total land area of about
170 sq. km (65 sq. mi). In the centre of the atoll, there is a
large lagoon where black pearl oysters are bred.
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