Rocas Atoll

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Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Atol das Rocas Reserves*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Brazil
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, ix, x
Reference	1000
Region**	Latin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription	2001  (25th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Rocas Atoll (Atol das Rocas) is an atoll in the Atlantic Ocean at location 03°52′S 33°49′W / -3.867, -33.817. It is part of Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. It's of volcanic origin and coralline formation.

The oval atoll is 3.7 km (2.3 miles) long and 2.5 km (1.6 miles) wide. The lagoon is up to 6 m (20 ft) deep and has an area of 7.1 km² (2.7 sq mi). The land area of the two islets (Cemitério Island, southwest and Farol Cay, northwest) is 0.36 km² (89 acres). Farol Cay accounts for almost two thirds of the aggregate area. The highest point is a sand dune in the south of larger Farol Cay, with a height of 6 m (20 ft). Both islets are overgrown with grasses, bushes and a few palm trees. There are crabs, spiders, scorpions, sand fleas, beetles, large roaches, and many species of birds.

There is a lighthouse of the Brazilian coast guard that has been in operation and maintained since the 1960s, at the Northern end of Farol Cay. In its vicinity is a derelict lighthouse from 1933.

The atoll is a wildlife sanctuary, and in 2001 was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Numerous turtles, sharks, dolphins and birds live in the area. The atoll consists mainly of coral and red algae. The coral ring is almost closed, with a 200 m (660 ft) wide channel on the North side and a much narrower channel on the West side.

A biological reserve, it is currently used solely for scientific research. Due to their remote location, the islands remain largely undisturbed by the human activities. On the other hand, it also limits the research's access to the islands and few studies have been developed in this atoll. The Entomological fauna from Atol das Rocas was already recorded.^[1]

[edit] See also

Atoll

PBS showed a documentary on this atoll in April 2008.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sigep - Brazilian Commission of Geological and Palaeobiological Sites (English/Portuguese) detailed description, with maps and pictures]
• UNESCO - World Heritage (English)
• Further information (German)

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v • d • e World Heritage Sites in Brazil Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves · Brasília · Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves · Central Amazon Conservation Complex · Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Park · Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves · Historic Centre of São Luís · Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia · Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina · Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás · Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda · Historic Town of Ouro Preto · Iguaçu National Park · Pantanal Conservation Area · Pico do Jaraguá · Ruins of São Miguel das Missões (Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis; shared with Argentina) · Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas · Serra da Capivara National Park

PBS showed a documentary on this atoll in April 2008.