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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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COMMUNE DE FAKARAVA |
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| General Description |
This biosphere reserve is situated in the Tuamotu Archipelago some 540 km north-east of Tahiti. Taiaro is an atoll, a ring-shaped island built up on an ancient volcano that has sunk into the ocean due to the drift of the Pacific Ocean floor. Taiaro is only visible because of the rim of coral that forms a barrier reef 5 km in diameter around the original volcano. Unlike the other 420 atolls listed throughout the world, the inner lagoon is completely closed and therefore has exceptional characteristics, as yet little studied. The number of visitors to this area is quite low due to the geographical isolation and lack of infrastructure in the area. Tourist activities include diving, camping, hiking, sailing, watersking, fishing and hunting. This biosphere reserve is currently under revision. One alternative is to expand the reserve to cover six other inhabited atolls of the Fakarava Municipality. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Atoll - Coral Reef | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | ||||
| Location | 15°44'S; 144°38'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 930 | |||
| Core area(s) | ||||
| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +3 to +4 | |||
| Year designated | 1977 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Délégation à l’Environnement Ministère de l’Environnement, Papete French Polynesia | |||
| Last updated: 1/28/2008 |
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