Images related to Majuro and Arno Atolls

Atolls in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia
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Atolls in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia

These two images of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, illustrate diversity in the morphology of atolls, one of the major types of coral reef formations. A typical atoll structure is a lagoon surrounded by a closed rim of cays and shallow spillways that control the exchange of water between the ocean and the lagoon. However, like human beings, this general scheme may vary according to the history of each individual atoll, resulting in a high diversity of morphology, especially for small atolls. The two neighboring atolls shown here have some unique features. What was a lagoon on Nukutavake (19°17′ S 138°48′ W, 6.2 km²) is now dry and completely covered by vegetation. Pinaki (3.54 km²) has a drying shallow lagoon still connected to the ocean via a single narrow spillway. The variation of morphology implies that each atoll may have a different equilibrium between ocean, lagoon, and land ecosystems.

Published Jul 1, 2001

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Tikehau Atoll, French Polynesia
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Tikehau Atoll, French Polynesia

The islands and coral atolls of French Polynesia, located in the southern Pacific Ocean, epitomize the idea of tropical paradise: white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, and palm trees.

Published Jul 14, 2009

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Atafu Atoll, Tokelau
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Atafu Atoll, Tokelau

The ring shape is the result of coral reefs building up around a former volcanic island in the South Pacific.

Published Apr 6, 2009

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Apataki Atoll
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Apataki Atoll

This astronaut photograph depicts Apataki Atoll, an atoll in the Tuamotu Islands in the south Pacific. Atolls are ring-like coral islands that nearly or entirely enclose a lagoon. The atoll traces the perimeter of what was once the coastline of a volcanic island. In 1722, Dutch navigator Jakob Roggeveen became the first European to see the Apataki Atoll. It was later visited by Captain Cook in 1774.

Published Mar 6, 2006

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Mataiva Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago, South Pacific Ocean
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Mataiva Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago, South Pacific Ocean

This astronaut photograph shows Mataiva Atoll, the westernmost atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago.

Published Aug 30, 2010

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Manihiki Atoll
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Manihiki Atoll

One of the larger islands in the remote Cook Island chain of the Central Pacific has the classic features of a coral atoll.

Published Nov 9, 2015

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Nukuoro Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia
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Nukuoro Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia

Located just north of the equator, this classically shaped atoll is part of the Caroline Islands, which stretch northeast of Papua New Guinea in the western Pacific. Nukuoro Atoll is one of 607 islands that make up the Federated States of Micronesia.

Published Jul 10, 2006

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Rocas Atoll
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Rocas Atoll

The only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean is part of Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha archipelago.

Published Feb 29, 2020

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Arno Atoll
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Arno Atoll

Published Apr 13, 2004

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Revisiting Bikini Atoll
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Revisiting Bikini Atoll

Sixty years ago, operation Castle Bravo unleashed the unexpectedly potent power of a hydrogen bomb on a small island chain in the western Pacific.

Published Mar 1, 2014

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Palau’s Reefs
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Palau’s Reefs

The island nation has more coral reef than land.

Published Dec 15, 2012

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Tetiaroa Island, French Polynesia
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Tetiaroa Island, French Polynesia

This astronaut photograph shows Tetiaroa Island, part of the Society Islands archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean. Tetiaroa is an atoll comprised of thirteen small islets.

Published Feb 16, 2009

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