Aldabra
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Aldabra is a raised coral atoll island in the Indian Ocean virtually untouched by humans, with distinctive island fauna, including its own species of giant tortoise. The atoll is home to the world's largest population of Aldabra tortoise, numbering some 152 000 individuals.
The island belongs to the Outer Islands District of the Seychelles, and is designated a World Heritage Site. Aldabra, along with Des Roches and Farquhar, was part of the British Indian Ocean Territory from 1965 until Seychelles independence in 1976.
The atoll is the second largest of the world after Kiritimati. It is 34 km long, 14.5 km wide, up to 8 meters above sea level, and has a land area of 155.4 km². The lagoon measures 224 km² in area, of which roughly two thirds full dry during low tide.
The atoll consists of a ring of four larger islands (counterclockwise):
- South Island (Grand Terre, 116.1 km²)
- Middle Island (Malabar, 26.8 km²)
- Polymnie (4.75 km²)
- West Island (Picard, 9.4 km²)
Additionally, there are some forty smaller islands and rocks, mostly inside the lagoon: Ile aux Cendres, Ile Michel, Ile Esprit, Ile Moustiques, Ilot Parc, Ilot Emile, Ilot Yangue, Ilot Dubois, Ilot Magnan, Ile Lanier, Champignon des Os, Euphrate, Grand Mentor, Grand IIot, Gros IIot Gionnet, Gros IIot Sésame, Heron Rock, Hide Island, Ile aux Aigrettes, Ile aux Cèdres, Iles Chalands, Il Fangame, Ile Héron, Ile Michel, Ile Suacco, Ile Sylvestre, Ile Verte, Ilot Déder, Ilot du Sud, Ilot du Milieu, Ilot du Nord, Ilot Macoa, Ilot Marquoix, Ilots Niçois, Ilot Salade, Middle Row Island, Nobby Rock, North Row Island, Petit Mentor, Petit Mentor Endans, Petits IIots, Pink Rock, Table Ronde.
The abandoned settlement Picard on the southwestern tip of West Island is now home to the wildlife warden and his staff. There is no other permanent population.
About 30 km Southeast of Aldabra Atoll is Assumption Island, a single coral island which measures 11.07 km² in area and which has a small settlement on the sheltered western side. Two large sand dunes are prominent on the south eastern coast of the island, one of them 32 m high. There is a concrete runway that runs from between the two sand dunes on the south east to the settlement.
The larger Aldabra Group consists of
- Aldabra Atoll (see above)
- Assumption Island (see above)
- Cosmoledo Atoll
- Astove Island
The total land area of the Aldabra Group is 175,91 km².de:Aldabra gl:Aldabra no:Aldabraøya pl:Aldabra sv:Aldabra