Phoenix Islands Protected Area
The Phoenix Island Protected Area (PIPA) is located in the South Pacific Ocean and covers 408,250 square kilometers of marine and terrestrial habitats. The protected area includes the Phoenix Islands, one of three archipelagos in Kiribati and the largest designated marine protected area and the world's largest coral reef complex. PIPA protects one of the world's largest intact marine coral island ecosystems, as well as 14 known seamounts (presumed to be extinct volcanoes) and other deep-sea habitats. There are approximately 800 known animal species in the area, including about 200 species of coral, 500 species of fish, 18 species of marine mammals, and 44 species of birds. The structure and function of the PIPA ecosystem illustrate its pristine nature and importance as a migration route and reservoir. This is the first site in Kiribati to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.