!!!Aldabra and the Outer Seychelles

Photos by Ádám Plézer,
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

20 February 2019

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Aldabra and the Outer Seychelles islands

When speaking about coral reefs, we usually imagine an underwater
"kingdom" with colourful fish and sea stars scurrying around bright
branchy corals. But there are also coral reefs existing above the sea
surface. They are known as raised (or uplifted) coral atolls: they were
lifted high above sea level by tectonic forces, then the wind brought
soils that enabled species of flora and fauna to develop here.

[{Image src='01_Polymnie.jpg' caption='Polymnie, Grande Passe, Île Picard, Aldabra atoll\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='516'}]

The largest formation of this kind reaches 8 meters in height: it is
Aldabra atoll in the Indian Ocean. It is a part of the Outer Islands of
Seychelles located in the south-westernmost point of the archipelago,
but it doesn't look anything like other islands of Seychelles. The
overall area of Aldabra is 155 sq km (34 km in length and 13 km in
width) and according to these figures, it is the world's second largest
coral atoll after Christmas Island in the Republic of Kiribati.

The atoll consists of 4 large and around 40 smaller islands located
inside the lagoon measuring 224 sq km. There are no settlements in
Aldabra, but there is a scientific station with 12 biologists working
here while tourists can visit this place by a prior reservation only and
their number is strictly limited.

[{Image src='02_Cosmoledo Atoll at sunset.jpg' caption='Cosmoledo Atoll at sunset\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='564'}]

In fact, Aldabra is the only raised coral atoll that has not suffered a
harmful human impact. This place is entirely in the power of nature. The
overall number of plant and animal species in Aldabra is 307. This kind
of diversity has provided the atoll with the title of "one of the crown
jewels of the Indian Ocean". But once there was a danger of losing all
this treasure: in the 60ies, the British planned to build a military
base in this place. Fortunately, this project was not fulfilled, but
even a short-term presence of people has caused certain damage: a number
of invasive species (such as cats and rats) were brought here together
with the arrival of people so that the most vulnerable plants and
animals couldn't survive "turf battles".

[{Image src='03_Aldabra atoll, incoming clouds of a tropical depression system North of Madagascar.jpg' caption='Aldabra atoll, incoming clouds of a tropical depression system North of Madagascar\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='423'}]

In 1982, Aldabra atoll was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so
now the conservation measures are fully and strictly respected. The
island possesses endemic species of orchid, lily, the rarest mangrove
trees that are only common to this area and exist nowhere else on the
planet. In addition, a very unusual mixture of grasses and herbs called
"tortoise turf" can be found here and enables the existence of the
largest population of giant tortoises that counts around 150,000
animals. The absence of people has also created conditions for a good
living of crabs, blacktip reef sharks, stingrays, rare fish, birds,
lizards, whales, turtles and other representatives of the local fauna.

[{Image src='04_Atoll Cosmoledo.jpg' caption='Atoll Cosmoledo\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='612'}]

The virtual tour dedicated to the Outer Seychelles Islands was created
by a friend of AirPano Adam Plezer. In addition to Aldabra atoll, it
also includes the panoramas of Cosmoledo. This atoll measuring only 5.2
sq km is a home for the largest colony of all the three species of
boobies that are common for Seychelles. As Cosmoledo is located close to
Madagascar, it has also become a home for Madagascar endemic species,
such as Malagasy white-eyes and turtle doves and Souimanga sunbirds. The
atoll is also a nesting place for sooty terns, sandpipers, pied crows
and other tropical birds.

[{Image src='05_Grand Île, Cosmoledo Atoll.jpg' caption='Grand Île, Cosmoledo Atoll\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='443'}]

630 kilometres to the north-east of Cosmoledo there is the Alphonse
Island Group. Only 3 islands are hiding behind this majestic name, but
all of them are homes for a great number of unique birds and crabs. The
largest island of the Alphonse Group bears the same name and is
inhabited by 300 people with the majority of them working in a
conservation centre belonging to the neighbouring atoll that includes
St. François Island and Bijoutier Island.

[{Image src='06_Little islands of Aldabra.jpg' caption='Little islands of Aldabra\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='564'}]

A little to the north, there is Desroches Island. Even having the length
of only 5.5 km, it is still the largest island of the Amirante Islands.
Desroches is covered with coconut palms, and its beaches are the place
of laying eggs of two turtle species.

Another atoll which is a part of the Outer Seychelles Islands is
Farquhar with high sand dunes rising at up to 10 meters high. This area
is inhabited by turtles and lizards, while the largest bird colonies
were created by terns and other birds. An interesting video was filmed
by BBC reporters in this place.

Have a look at these wonderful places: remote and splendid!

\\ \\
[18 panoramas of Aldabra and the Outer Seychelles|Geography/Africa/Seychelles/Pictures/Aldabra_and_Outer_Seychelles]

[{SET customtitle='Aldabra and the Outer Seychelles (AP)'}]












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