Ringgold Isles

The Ringgold Isles are an archipelago in Fiji, forming an outlier group to Vanua Levu. The Budd, Nukusemanu, and Heemskercq Reefs form part of the group. The group is mostly uninhabited, but Qelelevu has a small village. In 2008 Pacific rats were eradicated from seven islands of the group in an endeavour facilitated by BirdLife International's Fiji Programme.[1]

A 218 hectares (540 acres) area covering the archipelago is the Ringgold Islands Important Bird Area. This area supports globally and regionally significant populations of marine turtles, humpback whales, seabirds and semi-nomadic reef fish, and may hold concentrations of cold-water corals.[2]

16°30′10″S 179°41′20″W

Cakau Matacucu

Cobia
Main article: Cobia Island

Cobia is an island in Fiji, and is a member of the Ringgold Isles archipelago, which forms an outlier group to the northern island of Vanua Levu. It has a land area of 69.29 hectares.[3]

Maqewa
Main article: Maqewa

Maqewa Island is narrow and rocky.[3] It has a total land area of 26.05 hectares.

16°30′S 179°40.99′E

Nukubalati and Nukubasaga

A single coral reef with two rock bound islands, one larger than the other [3]

Qelelevu
Main article: Qelelevu
Satellite view of Qelelevu.

Qelelevu is a coral islet in Fiji, a member of the Ringgold Isles archipelago, which forms an outlier to the northern island of Vanua Levu. Apart from three nearby coral islets, it is 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the nearest island. Qelelevu covers an area of 1.5 square kilometers. Its maximum elevation is 18 metres (59 ft).[3]

The small village of Nalutu (16.087453°S 179.151907°W / -16.087453; -179.151907 (Nalutu)) is located on Qelelevu. Fishing is the only significant economic activity.

Raranitiqa
Main article: Raranitiqa

Raranitiqa Island in Fiji, a member of the Ringgold Isles archipelago, which forms an outlier group to the northern island of Vanua Levu. It has a land area of 2.49 hectares.

Taininbeka
Main article: Taininbeka

Taininbeka is an atoll in Fiji, a member of the Ringgold Isles archipelago, which forms an outlier group to the northern island of Vanua Levu. This uninhabited islet is situated at 16.04° South and 179.09° East, and has a total land area of 144.34ha.

16°04′S 179°09′E

Tauraria
Main article: Tauraria

Tauraria is an atoll in Fiji, a member of the Ringgold Isles archipelago, which forms an outlier group to the northern island of Vanua Levu. This uninhabited islet is situated at 16.04° South and 179.09° East. Its land area is 11.06 hectares.

16°04′S 179°09′E

Vetauua

Vetauua is a small, uninhabited cay.[4]

Yanuca

Small mountain island. Inhabited by about 60-80 people who live in a small village in a tiny beach cove.

References
  1. "The Magnificent Seven (rat free Fijian islands)". BirdLife Community news. BirdLife International. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  2. "BirdLife Data Zone: Ringgold Islands". datazone.birdlife.org.
  3. Arthur L. Dahl (1986). Review of the protected areas system in Oceania; The IUCN conservation library. IUCN. pp. 125 & 126. ISBN 978-2-88032-509-1.
  4. "Vetauua". BirdLife Data Zone. Retrieved September 1, 2021.


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