What is an atoll? The atoll is a ringed coral reef that partially or completely surrounds the lagoon. In other words, an atoll is a narrow stretch of land that borders and is surrounded by water at the same time. This is what distinguishes an atoll from an ordinary island. While an island is just a piece of land surrounded by water, an atoll contains a body of water within it.

Another curious detail about atolls is the fact that they are not actually made of soil, but of coral. The corals have to grow fast enough to replace parts of the atoll that are destroyed by erosion in order for the atoll to remain intact. Since corals thrive only in warm waters, atolls can only be found in the tropics and subtropics. Hence, the atolls are unique coral land masses consisting of a crystal clear lagoon and spectacular colorful reefs teeming with amazing marine life. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?!

Let's go on an amazing journey through the tropics. From the stunning Aitutaki Atoll in the Cook Islands to the extraterrestrial beauty of atolls in the Maldives, here are 25 of the world's most astounding atolls.

25. Takapoto, French polynesia

Takapoto, measuring 20 kilometers by 7 kilometers, is an atoll located in the Tuamoto archipelago in French Polynesia. The atoll, discovered by the Dutch navigator Jacob Le Maire in 1616, is now home to about 380 people.

24. Aitutaki, Cook Islands


Approximately 2,000 people live on Aitutaki Atoll. It is the second most visited island in the Cook Islands. The atoll that the authorities saved from mass tourism, famous for its turquoise waters of the central lagoon and picturesque palm-fringed beaches.

23. Ulithi, Caroline Islands


Ulithi, part of the Federated States of Micronesia, is an atoll of 40 islets surrounding one of the largest lagoons in the world. The atoll was the main springboard for the US Navy during the Great Patriotic War. Several sunken ships are still at the bottom of this lagoon.

22. Tubbataha Reef, Philippines


Tubbataha Reef, located in the center of the Sulu Sea (Sulu Sea), is a marine and bird sanctuary, consisting of two large atolls - North and South Atoll. This protected area boasts amazing biodiversity and contains 75 percent of known coral species and 40 percent of reef fish species.

21. Tarawa, Kiribati


Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, located in the central Pacific Ocean. The atoll, which is home to almost 60,000 people, boasts a wide reef teeming with fish and a large lagoon spanning over 500 square kilometers.

20. Tikehau, French Polynesia


Tikehau, located 340 kilometers northeast of Tahiti on the Tuamotu Islands, is an oval-shaped atoll and tourist destination famous for pink sandy beaches lined with coconut palms and stunning marine life and flora.

19. Maafushi, Maldives


Maafushi, which is part of the Kaafu Atoll, is one of the inhabited islands in the Maldives. The atoll was badly damaged by the 2004 tsunami but quickly recovered. Nowadays, Maafushi boasts a thriving local economy based on fishing and tourism.

18. St. Francois Atoll, Seychelles


Saint Francois Atoll, consisting of the two islands of Saint Francois and Bijoutier, is an uninhabited atoll in the western part indian ocean. The atoll is home to numerous species of birds, including the Fairy Tern, Curlew, Turnstone, Tules and so on.

17. Rangiroa, French Polynesia


, one of the largest atolls in the world, consists of approximately 415 tiny islets and shoals, with a total area of ​​​​about 170 square kilometers. In the center of the atoll, there is a large lagoon where black pearl oysters are bred.

16. Palmyra Atoll, North Pacific Equatorial Region


Palmyra Atoll, located between Hawaii and American Samoa, is an unoccupied atoll consisting of an extensive reef, lagoons and 50 islets. The atoll is officially administered by the United States and is covered with coconut, scaevola, and pisonia trees.

15. Nukuoro (Nukuoro), Federated States micronesia


Surrounding a lagoon 6 kilometers in diameter, Nukuoro is a remote atoll with a population of nearly 400 people. There is no tourism on the island, except for occasional visits by passing sailing yachts.

14. Ontog Java Atoll, Solomon Islands


Ontong Java Atoll is sometimes also called Lord Howe Atoll. It is a large shoe-shaped atoll, consisting of more than 120 low-lying islets. There are two large villages on the atoll - Luaniua (Luaniua) and Pelau (Pelau) - where most of the population of the atoll lives.

13. Nukumanu, Papua New Guinea


Nukumanu is a medium-sized atoll that is part of papua new guinea and located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, 4 degrees south of the equator. The atoll consists of 20 sandy islands surrounding a large lagoon.

12. Lihou Reef, Coral Sea Islands Territory


Lihou Reef, located in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland, Australia, is the second largest atoll in the world in terms of total area. Surrounding a lagoon spanning over 2,500 square kilometers, the atoll is an important nesting site for many bird species.

11. Cayo Bolivar, Colombia


Cayo Bolivar, located 25 kilometers from San Andrés, a Colombian coral island in the Caribbean, is an uninhabited atoll consisting of two islands - East and West Cay. Its diversity of marine life and beautiful beaches made it popular place for tourist excursions.

10 Aldabra, Seychelles


Aldabra, uninhabited and extremely isolated, is a large atoll virtually untouched by man. Known as one of the "crown jewels" of the Indian Ocean, it has a distinct island fauna, including the largest population of giant tortoises in the world.

9. Ari Atoll, Maldives


Ari Atoll is a natural atoll located in the Maldives. This is one of the largest atolls in the world and is located in the western part of the archipelago. More than 20 islands are scattered here, most of which were developed for tourist resorts, and each of them is autonomous and has places for living and recreation.

8. Bangaram Atoll, India


Bangaram Atoll, located in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India, is a popular tourist destination offering numerous recreational activities including scuba diving, snorkeling and deep sea fishing. It features white sandy beaches, a tranquil lagoon and stunning coral reefs.

7. Chagos Islands, British Territory in the Indian Ocean


The Chagos Islands are a group of seven, consisting of more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean. These reefs, notable for their amazing biodiversity, are home to at least 371 coral species, 784 fish species and 2 turtle species.

6. Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Hawaii


Pearl and Hermes Atoll, part of the Northwest Islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, is a small Hawaiian atoll named after two English whaling ships that were wrecked on this atoll in 1822. Once the center of the pearl trade, the atoll is now a bird sanctuary.

5. Osprey Reef, Coral Sea Islands Territory

Osprey Reef, part of the northwestern group of islands in the Coral Sea, is an oval-shaped submerged atoll. The depth of the waters surrounding this atoll is 2 kilometers and the slopes of its reef are home to a variety of marine life, including the rare dwarf nautilus pompilius.

4. Diego Garcia Atoll, British Indian Ocean Territory


Diego Garcia Atoll, located in the central Indian Ocean just 7 degrees south of the equator, was settled by the French in the 1790s and was later ceded to the British crown. It has the largest continuous landmass of any atoll in the world.

3. Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands


Kwajalein, which is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is one of the largest atolls in the world, judging by the area of ​​water that it borders. It consists of 97 islands and islets, and its land area is 16 square kilometers. It surrounds a giant lagoon with an area of ​​2174 square kilometers.

2. Kure Atoll, Hawaii


Kure Atoll, politically part of Hawaii, is the northernmost atoll in the world. This atoll is sometimes also referred to as Ocean Island. It is home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds and numerous marine animals, including the monk seal.

1. Ducie Island, Pitcairn Islands


Ducie Island, located in the South Pacific Ocean, is a small uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Islands. Despite the sparse vegetation, the atoll is home to a range of bird species. More than 90 percent of the world population of Murphy's Typhoon nests on Ducie.

largest group of islands

First letter "o"

Second letter "k"

Third letter "e"

The last beech is the letter "I"

Answer for the clue "The largest group of islands", 7 letters:
Oceania

Alternative questions in crossword puzzles for the word oceania

The largest cluster of islands in one section of the oceans

A collection of islands in the Pacific Ocean

The steamboat from the short story by S. Zweig "Amok"

Collection of islands in the central and southwestern Pacific Ocean

part of the world

Part of the Pacific

Word definitions for oceania in dictionaries

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998 The meaning of the word in the dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998
a collection of islands in the central and southwestern parts of the Pacific ok., between Australia, the Malay arch. in the west and a wide strip of ocean devoid of islands in the north, east and south; sometimes stands out in an independent part of the world. Subdivided into Melanesia,...

Big Soviet Encyclopedia The meaning of the word in the dictionary Great Soviet Encyclopedia
the world's largest cluster of islands (about 10 thousand) in the central and western parts of the Pacific Ocean. The area is 1.26 million km2. The islands are located between the subtropical latitudes of the Northern (28╟25 "N) and temperate Southern (52╟30" S) hemispheres, a large ...

Wikipedia The meaning of the word in the Wikipedia dictionary
Oceania is a fictional military-political confederate bloc in George Orwell's novel 1984. The main characters of the novel, Winston and Julia, live in Oceania and its events unfold. It is a hypothetical model for the further development of the North and South ...

Examples of the use of the word oceania in the literature.

Jossan's extraordinary interest in boustrophedon, discovered by missionaries on Easter Island, is explained by the fact that nowhere else in Oceania no type of writing was known.

He had one difficulty: it was necessary to warn the inhabitants Oceania that Bakhmetiev K.

Was immediately torn down geographic map Oceania, and as Mrs. Brenicken urged that a decision be taken without delay to embark on a new expedition, William Andrew and Captain Ellis had to immediately begin to consider this issue.

My experience as a researcher sea ​​depths was limited to a few flights on sightseeing hydrostats in Oceania, Red Sea and off the coast of Florida.

Under such circumstances, the new prime meridian drawn from the new North Pole will pass through Dublin in Ireland, through Paris in France, through Palermo in Sicily, along the Great Sirte off the coast of Tripolitania, then through Obeid in Darfur, through the Kilimanjaro mountain range, through Madagascar , Kerguelen Island in the South Pacific, across the new Antarctic Pole, through the antipodes of Paris, Cook Islands and Society in Oceania, Quadra and Vancouver Islands offshore British Columbia, across New England territory in North America- and further to the Melville Peninsula in the northern polar region.

An atoll is a coral island that looks like a full or partial ring. In other words, the atolls are made up of turquoise lagoons, colorful reefs that seamlessly combine with marine life and are reminiscent of the wild and colorful life of the hero of Daniel Defoe's novel, Robinson Crusoe. I suggest you admire the most beautiful atolls of the world from different parts of our planet. See picturesque photos, find out Interesting Facts and share your impressions in the comments to this article. Most of the atolls have already written separate stories, so follow the links for more information.

1. Funafuti.

Tuvalu is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia. It is the second least populated sovereign state in the world (the Vatican City legitimately took the primacy, with a smaller number of inhabitants). Due to the remoteness of the country, very few tourists visit it.

2. Bikini Atoll.

3. Tubbataha reef.

Tubbataha Reef is one of the best diving spots in the world. Located in the Philippines, the reef consists of two atolls: North and South, which are separated by an 8-kilometer wide channel. Coral reefs- Not only perfect place for diving, it is also an excellent habitat for many colonies of exotic fish.

4. Big blue hole.

Lighthouse Reef is probably the most popular of the atolls in the world, and this is due to the large blue hole, which is located in the very center of the atoll. This is a real unexplored paradise for divers who flock here from all over the world. The deeper one goes into the Blue Hole, the clearer water and more breathtaking scenery.

5. Tikehau.

Tikehau is part of the Tuamotu chain of atolls, covering an area in the Pacific Ocean that is the same size as Western Europe. This place attracts tourists with its white - pink sand islands, inside which turquoise lagoons serve as shelters for all kinds of exotic fish. The research team of Jacques Cousteau, who visited these places, came to the conclusion that this place has the largest concentration of fish in French Polynesia.

6. Caroline Island

Europeans first saw the island in 1606. Carelyn is now part of the Republic of Kiribati. Despite more than 300 years of human activity on this island, it is one of the world's most pristine tropical islands and the world's most pristine atoll. Caroline Island and its neighbor Flint Island are home to the world's largest crab populations. The islands are located at an altitude of 6 meters above sea level, which means that they are in danger of disappearing due to the constantly rising sea level. According to scientists' calculations, the islands could be completely submerged by 2025.

7. Aitutaki Atoll.

Aitutaki consists of several coral and volcanic islands which have a triangular lagoon. Classical palm island turquoise shallow water, corals, exotic fish - all this you will find when you get to Aitutaki. The most popular is the island of Tapuaetai - a small island in the southeast of the lagoon.

Aldabra is one of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, over 1100 kilometers (700 miles) from Mahe, the big island on the Seychelles. It is the second largest atoll in the world after Kiritimati. Due to the difficulty of accessing Aldabra Atoll, it is virtually untouched by man. About 152,000 giant tortoises live on its territory.

9. Rangiroa.

Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls in the world and the largest atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago. This place is ideal for diving, because of the deep lagoon, dazzling with an abundance of marine life. Here you can also see sharks, sea turtles and dolphins.

10. Atolls Maldives.

The tiny country in the Maldives, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, is made up of about 1,200 tiny coral islands grouped into 26 atolls. The main occupation for tourists here is the study of alluring depths, which is accessible due to excellent visibility. Depth exploration includes the exploration of wrecks, which can be found with the help of guides.

Here I will try to disassemble all the island states of the tropical and equatorial climate through the eyes not of a tourist, but of a potential Robinson, but I will not choose any specific ones. I will not list island countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, about. Taiwan, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, the countries of the Caribbean, as well as states consisting of one inhabited island - because of my skepticism about the Robinsonade on them. Why is it important to know the form of government in the state? Because some island states are overseas territories other large countries such as UK, France, New Zealand, USA, India. It follows that control in such countries is much more serious than in independent island states.

Vanuatu

83 islands (mostly volcanic). Parliamentary republic. Languages: Bislama, English, French. The population is 215 thousand people. For Russian citizens visa-free entry for up to 30 days. Standard rules for entry. The import of seeds, plants, fish, seafood, meat and dairy products (including frozen and canned) requires permission from the Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture. The climate is tropical, close to equatorial. The amount of precipitation is from 2000 to 5000 mm per year, depending on the locality. High humidity: from 70% in the dry season to 100% in the rainy season. Soils are favorable for planting, a variety of vegetation. A flight from Moscow to Port Vila costs about 38,000 rubles. Absence of large mammals. The presence of malaria.

The hut of one of the tribes of New Guinea at an altitude of about 50 m.

Papua New Guinea

Consists of numerous islands, many of which are uninhabited. A constitutional monarchy. Local languages ​​and English. The population is 6 million people. Russian citizens need a visa. The climate is tropical and humid. The area is covered. The presence of malaria and other diseases. presence of large mammals.

Solomon islands

Island state. Consists of 992 volcanic (mostly) islands. A constitutional monarchy. English language. Located in a seismically dangerous region where earthquakes often occur. The population is 478 thousand people. A visa is required to enter. The climate is tropical and humid. The soil is favorable for vegetation.

Monoriki Island, where the movie Cast Away was filmed

Fiji

Consists of 332 islands of volcanic and coral origin. Republic. Languages ​​English and local. The population is 849 thousand people. For Russian citizens visa-free entry for up to 4 months. The importation of vegetables, seeds, meat and dairy products requires special permission from the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests. The climate is tropical. The amount of precipitation is from 2000 to 5000 mm. On many islands, the soil is favorable for planting. Transit routes to other countries of Oceania pass through Fiji. The most visited island country of all. Flights from Moscow to Nadi (Fiji) usually pass through Hong Kong or Seoul, a ticket costs about 32,000 rubles.

flint

Kiribati

Consists of 33 atolls, 20 of which are uninhabited. Presidential republic. Language English, Kiribati. The population is 98 thousand people. Russian citizens need a visa to enter. The climate is equatorial, oceanic. The hottest months are September-November, the coldest months are January-March. The amount of precipitation varies from 800 to 4000 mm. The soil is not favorable for planting. Vegetation is sparse. A flight from Moscow will cost approximately 57,000 rubles.

Classic atoll landscape

Marshall Islands

Consists of 29 atolls and 5 islands. Republic. Marshal and English languages. The population is 56 thousand people. Russian citizens need a visa. The climate is predominantly tropical, arid in the north and equatorial in the south. The amount of precipitation is from 300 to 4300 mm. The soil is not suitable for agriculture.

Famous islets in Palau

Consists of 328 islands (mostly small coral). Presidential republic. Language English, Palua. The population is 20 thousand people. For Russian citizens, a visa is issued upon arrival (stamped in the passport) for a period of 30 days. Importation of seeds, plants, meat and dairy products requires permission from the Ministry of Agriculture of Palau. The climate is tropical, the rainy season is from May to November. The flight will cost about 30,000 rubles.

Northern Mariana Islands

Consist of 14 volcanic islands. They are a US territory. Languages ​​English and local. The population is 86 thousand people. Russian citizens need a US visa. The climate is tropical, trade wind-monsoon type. Dry season from December to June, rainy season from July to October. There are typhoons from August to November. The soil is suitable for agriculture.

Pohnpei Island

Federated States of Micronesia

Consists of 607 small islands and atolls, of which 65 are inhabited. Republic, free association with the United States. English language. The population is 107 thousand people. For citizens of the Russian Federation visa-free entry for up to 30 days. The climate is equatorial. Precipitation falls from 2250 mm to 3000-6000 mm. The typhoon season is from August to December. The soil is suitable for agriculture, but not everywhere.

Cook Islands

Consists of 15 islands and atolls, 3 of which are uninhabited. A constitutional monarchy. Free association with New Zealand. Local languages ​​and English. The population is 19 thousand people. For Russian citizens visa-free entry for up to 31 days. The climate on the islands is tropical maritime with a pronounced rainy season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. The average annual rainfall is about 2000 mm. A flight from Moscow will cost approximately 40,000 rubles.

savaii

Samoa

Consists of several islands. Parliamentary republic. Samoan and English languages. The population is 188 thousand people. For citizens of the Russian Federation visa-free entry up to 60 days. The climate is humid and tropical. The amount of precipitation on the plains is from 2000 mm and in the mountains up to 7000 mm per year. Relative humidity is 80%. A flight from Moscow will cost approximately 45,000 rubles.

Extinct volcano Khao, view from the island of Tofua

Tonga

Consists of 172 islands and atolls. A constitutional monarchy. Languages ​​Tongan, English. The population is 120 thousand people. For citizens of the Russian Federation, a visa is issued upon arrival (stamped) for up to 31 days. The climate is tropical. The amount of precipitation is about 2500 mm. Soils on many islands are suitable for agriculture. The flight costs about 42,000 rubles.

Tuvalu

Consists of 5 atolls and 4 islands. Monarchy. Tuvaluan languages, English. The population is 12 thousand people. For citizens of the Russian Federation, a visa is issued upon arrival for 1 month. The climate is tropical. The amount of precipitation is about 3000 mm per year. The wet season is from November to April, the dry season is from May to October. A flight from Moscow will cost approximately 44,000 rubles.

Bora Bora island

French polynesia

Consists of a large number islands and atolls. Overseas Society of France. French language. The population is 287 thousand people. Russian citizens need a French visa to enter. The climate is tropical. A flight from Moscow will cost about 50,000 rubles.

Philippines

Large island nation. Consists of 7100 islands. Unitary presidential constitutional republic. Pilipino languages, English. The population is 101 million people. For citizens of Russia visa-free entry for a period of 21 days. The climate is tropical, monsoonal. Typhoons often hit the northern regions of the country, tsunamis are possible. The amount of precipitation per year varies from 1000 to 4000 mm. The soil is suitable for agriculture. A flight from Moscow will cost approximately 16,000 rubles.