Description of the attraction
Rokas Atoll is located in the Atlantic Ocean. It belongs to the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte. The atoll is located 200 km from the city of Natal. The discovery of Rokas took place thanks to a shipwreck in 1503.
Rokas Atoll is of volcanic origin and was formed in part by coral. Rocas is the only atoll in the South Atlantic and the smallest in the world. The atoll resembles an oval in shape. Its length is about 3.7 km, and its width is 2.5 km. The depth of the lagoon is six meters, the area is about 7 km
The highest point of Rokas is the southern sand dune, its height is about 6 m. The atoll consists of a huge number of red algae and coral. The coral ring is almost closed, the only exception is one strait, 200 meters wide.
Small islands of the atoll are covered with a variety of grass, shrubs and palms. The Rocas Islands are home to various species of spiders, crabs, scorpions and birds. Sharks, turtles and dolphins live in the waters around Rokas.
In 1960, a lighthouse for the Brazilian Navy was erected on one of the islands. In 2001, UNESCO took the atoll under its patronage as a World Heritage Site. And currently, Rokas Atoll is a conservation area. Its islands remain largely untouched by humans due to their remoteness. Now it is used for scientific research.
