Coral reefs of Tuvalu
The coral reefs of Tuvalu consist of three reef islands and six atolls, containing approximately 710 km2 (270 sq mi) of reef platforms. The islands of the Tuvalu archipelago are spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line. The islands of Tuvalu are volcanic in origin. On the atolls, an annular reef rim surrounds the lagoon, and may include natural reef channels. The reef islands have a different structure to the atolls, and are described as reef platforms as they are smaller tabular reef platforms that do not have a salt-water lagoon, although they may have a completely closed rim of dry land, with the remnants of a lagoon that has no direct connection to the open sea or that may be drying up.
Blue coral (Heliopora coerulea) | |
Aerial image of Funafuti atoll | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 5°41′S 176°12′E to 10°45′S 179°51′E |
| Total islands | 9 |
| Major islands | Funafuti, Nanumanga, Nanumea, Niulakita, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae and Vaitupu |
| Area | 710 km2 (270 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Tuvalu | |