Rock Islands Southern Lagoon
The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon covers 100,200 hectares and includes 445 uninhabited volcanic limestone islands. Many of these islands are distinctive mushroom-shaped, set in a turquoise lagoon and surrounded by coral reefs. Adding to the beauty of the site is a complex coral reef system with more than 385 species of coral and different types of habitats. They support a wide variety of plants, birds and marine life, including dugongs and at least thirteen species of sharks. The site has the highest density of marine lakes in the world, isolated bodies of seawater separated from the ocean by land barriers. They are a special feature of the islands, supporting a large number of endemic populations, and new species are being discovered all the time. The remains of stonework villages, as well as cemeteries and rock paintings bear witness to the organization of small island communities over three thousand years. The abandonment of villages in the 17th and 18th centuries illustrates the impact of climate change, population growth and subsistence behavior on societies living in marginal marine environments.