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The atoll of Tetiʻaroa in French Polynesia. An atoll (/ ˈ æ t. ɒ l,-ɔː l,-oʊ l, ə ˈ t ɒ l,-ˈ t ɔː l,-ˈ t oʊ l /) [1] is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. [2] [3] Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas where ...
Canton Island typifies the isolated coral atolls dotting the Pacific Ocean. The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs, Being the first part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. during the years 1832 to 1836, was published in 1842 as Charles Darwin's first monograph, and set out his theory of the formation of coral reefs and atolls.
Formation of an atoll according to Charles Darwin. Atolls or atoll reefs are a more or less circular or continuous barrier reef that extends all the way around a lagoon without a central island. [51] They are usually formed from fringing reefs around volcanic islands. [42] Over time, the island erodes away and sinks below sea level. [42]
The atoll is situated just north of the Kashidhoo Kandhoo channel, which geographically divides the northern chain of atolls. It supports one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean , and acts as a stepping stone for the transport of planktonic larvae of reef organisms from the western and eastern Indian Ocean.
There are two types of lagoons, coastal and oceanic/atoll lagoons. [19] A coastal lagoon is, as the definition above, simply a body of water that is separated from the ocean by a barrier. An atoll lagoon is a circular coral reef or several coral islands that surround a lagoon. Atoll lagoons are often much deeper than coastal lagoons. [20]
A fringing reef off the coast of Eilat, Israel Exposed reef flats during low tide at the Magpupungko Rock Pools in Siargao Island, Philippines. A fringing reef is one of the three main types of coral reef.
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On average, each atoll has approximately 5 to 10 inhabited islands; the uninhabited islands of each atoll number approximately 20 to 60. [1] Some atolls, however, consist of one large, isolated island surrounded by a steep coral beach. The most notable example of this type of atoll is the large island of Fuvahmulah situated in the Equatorial ...