Farquhar Atoll
Encyclopedia
The Farquhar Atoll is part of the Farquhar Group
of island
s in the Seychelles
that are part of the Outer Islands
. From 1965 to the independence of the Seychelles in 1976, they were a part of the British Indian Ocean Territory
. The atoll is located at 10°10′S 51°08′E. The total area of the atoll, including the large lagoon
, is 170.5 km². The land area is 7.5 km².
Farquhar is notable for its high sand dunes, some of which reach to over ten metres in height. The atoll
is located about 770 km from Mahé
and is the most southerly part of the Seychelles. It was discovered in 1501 by the Portuguese
navigator, João da Nova
.
The main group of islands form a long curve which describes the eastern side of the atoll. Largest of these are Ile du Nord and Ile du Sud, with the smaller Manaha islands between them. Farther south is Goelettes. To the open western side of the atoll lies the small group known as Trois Îles.
The atoll consists of:
There is a small settlement on Île du Nord (North Island).
Farquhar Group
The Farquhar Group belong to the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, lying in the southwest of the island nation, more than 700 kilometres southwest the capital, Victoria, on Mahé Island. The total land area of all islands in the group is less than 11 km², but the total area of the atolls measures...
of island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s in the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
that are part of the Outer Islands
Outer Islands (Seychelles)
The Outer Islands or Coralline Seychelles is a collective term for those islands of the Seychelles that are not on the shallow Seychelles Bank which defines the location of the Inner Islands. They are located at distances of 230 to 1150 km from the main Seychelles island of Mahé, and are all...
. From 1965 to the independence of the Seychelles in 1976, they were a part of the British Indian Ocean Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
The British Indian Ocean Territory or Chagos Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia...
. The atoll is located at 10°10′S 51°08′E. The total area of the atoll, including the large lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
, is 170.5 km². The land area is 7.5 km².
Farquhar is notable for its high sand dunes, some of which reach to over ten metres in height. The atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
is located about 770 km from Mahé
Mahé, Seychelles
Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles, lying in the north east of the nation. The population of Mahé is 80,000. It contains the capital city of Victoria and accommodates 90% of the country's total population...
and is the most southerly part of the Seychelles. It was discovered in 1501 by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
navigator, João da Nova
João da Nova
João da Nova , Xoán de Novoa or Joam de Nôvoa galician spellings, Juan de Nova, Spanish spelling, was a Galician explorer of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at the service of Portugal...
.
The main group of islands form a long curve which describes the eastern side of the atoll. Largest of these are Ile du Nord and Ile du Sud, with the smaller Manaha islands between them. Farther south is Goelettes. To the open western side of the atoll lies the small group known as Trois Îles.
The atoll consists of:
- Île du Nord
- Île du Sud
- Manaha Îles
- Manaha Nord
- Manaha Milieu
- Manaha Sud
- Goelettes
- Trois Îles
- Lapin
- Île de Milieu
- Depose
- Bancs de Sable
There is a small settlement on Île du Nord (North Island).