Rocas Atoll

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Rocas Atoll
Rocas Atoll, photographed from the International Space Station (Expedition 22)
Rocas Atoll, photographed from the International Space Station ( Expedition 22 )
Waters Atlantic Ocean
Geographical location 3 ° 52 ′  S , 33 ° 48 ′  W Coordinates: 3 ° 52 ′  S , 33 ° 48 ′  W
Map of Rocas Atoll
Number of islands 2
Main island Ilha do Farol
length 3.7 km
width 2.5 km
Land area 36 ha
total area 7.5 km²
Residents uninhabited
Old and new lighthouse
Old and new lighthouse
Template: Infobox Atoll / Maintenance / HoeheFehlt

The Rocas Atoll , Brazilian Atol das Rocas , is an atoll in the Atlantic Ocean and belongs to the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte .

The atoll is a nature reserve and since 2001 one of the UNESCO recognized World Heritage and a natural monument . Many different turtles , sharks , dolphins and sea ​​birds live in the nature reserve . The atoll itself consists largely of corals and red algae .

The atoll is elliptical and covers 7.5 km². The major axis is 3.7 km and the minor axis 2.5 km. The ring reef is almost closed. In the north there is a 200 m wide canal, in the west a much narrower one.

The land area of ​​the two islands of the atoll Ilha do Cemitério (cemetery island - Cemitério Island ) in the southwest and Ilha do Farol (lighthouse island - Farol Cay ) in the northwest is 0.36 km². Farol Cay is almost twice the size of Cemetério Island. The highest point is a 6 m high sand dune in the south of Farol Cay. The islands are overgrown with grass, bushes and some palm trees . There are crabs, spiders, sand fleas, beetles and large cockroaches, as well as numerous species of birds.

At the north end of Farol Cay is a Brazilian Coast Guard lighthouse that has been in operation since the 1960s. Nearby is a dilapidated lighthouse from 1933.

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