Rocas Atoll

The Rocas Atoll (Portuguese: Atol das Rocas [aˈtɔw dɐz ˈʁɔkɐs]) is the only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean.[1] It belongs to the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Norte. It is located approximately 260 km (160 mi) northeast of Natal and 145 km (90 mi) west of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago. The atoll is of volcanic origin and coralline formation.

Rocas Atoll
Ruins of the old lighthouse, with the new lighthouse in the background
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates03°52′S 33°49′W
ArchipelagoAtol das Rocas
Total islands2
Major islandsFarol; Cemitério
Area0.36 km2 (0.14 sq mi)
Administration
RegionNortheast
StateRio Grande do Norte
Demographics
Populationuninhabited
Official nameBrazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
TypeNatural
Criteriavii, ix, x
Designated2001 (25th session)
Reference no.1000
RegionLatin America and the Caribbean

Description
Rocas Atoll, Brazil, photographed from the International Space Station by the crew of Expedition 22.

The oval atoll is 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) long and 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide. The lagoon is up to 6 metres (20 ft) deep and has an area of 7.1 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi). The land area of the two islets (Cemitério Island, southwest and Farol Cay, northwest) is 0.36 square kilometres (89 acres). Farol Cay accounts for almost two-thirds of the aggregate area. The highest point is a sand dune in the south of larger Farol Cay, with a height of 6 metres (20 ft). Both islets are overgrown with grasses, bushes and a few palm trees. The population consists of crabs, spiders, scorpions, sand fleas, beetles, large roaches, and many species of birds.

There is a lighthouse of the Brazilian Navy that has been in operation and maintained since the 1960s, at the Northern end of Farol Bay. In its vicinity is a derelict lighthouse from 1933.

The atoll is a wildlife sanctuary, and in 2001 was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of its importance as a feeding ground for marine life. Numerous turtles, sharks, dolphins and birds live in the area. The atoll consists mainly of coral and red algae. The coral ring is almost closed, with a 200 metres (660 ft) wide channel on the north side and a much narrower channel on the west side.

The atoll and surrounding waters are contained in the Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve. The reserve it is currently used solely for scientific research. Due to their remote location, the islands remain largely undisturbed by human activities. On the other hand, the remoteness also limits researchers' access to the islands and few studies have been developed on this atoll. The entomological fauna from Atol das Rocas have been recorded.[2]

The atoll was the site of a missile attack on a Cobra satellite communications tracking station and robotics storage center, in the G.I. Joe comic title from Marvel Comics.[3]

See also

References
  1. Amado-Filho, G. M.; et al. (2012-09-17), "The mesophotic zone of the only South Atlantic Atoll is dominated byrhodolith beds", in Aguirre, Julio (ed.), IV International Rhodolith Workshop, Granada, Spain: Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Ciencias, pp. 10–11
  2. Almeida CE, Marchon-Silva V V, Ribeiro R, Serpa-Filho A, Almeida JR, Costa J. 2000. Entomological fauna from Reserva Biológica do Atol das Rocas, RN, Brazil: I. Morphospecies composition. Rev Bras Biol. 60(2):291-298.
  3. Trimpe, Herb (1991). "Double Trouble", G.I. Joe A Real American Hero, Vol. 1, No. 119.
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