Rocas Atoll

Native name: Atol das Rocas
Ruins of the old lighthouse, with the new lighthouse in the background
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	03°52′S 33°49′W / 3.867°S 33.817°W / -3.867; -33.817Coordinates: 03°52′S 33°49′W / 3.867°S 33.817°W / -3.867; -33.817
Archipelago	Atol das Rocas
Total islands	2
Major islands	Farol; Cemitério
Area	0.36 km2 (0.139 sq mi)
Country
Brazil
Region	Northeast
State	Rio Grande do Norte
Additional information
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
Type:	Natural
Criteria:	vii, ix, x
Designated:	2001 (25th session)
Reference #:	1000
State Party:	Brazil
Region:	Latin America and the Caribbean

The Rocas Atoll (Portuguese: Atol das Rocas) is an atoll in the Atlantic Ocean, belonging to the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Norte. It is located approximately 260 km (160 mi) northeast of Natal and 145 km (90 mi) west of the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. The atoll is of volcanic origin and coralline formation.

Description[link]

The oval atoll is 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) long and 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide. The lagoon is up to 6 metres (20 ft) deep and has an area of 7.1 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi). The land area of the two islets (Cemitério Island, southwest and Farol Cay, northwest) is 0.36 square kilometres (89 acres). Farol Cay accounts for almost two thirds of the aggregate area. The highest point is a sand dune in the south of larger Farol Cay, with a height of 6 metres (20 ft). Both islets are overgrown with grasses, bushes and a few palm trees. There are crabs, spiders, scorpions, sand fleas, beetles, large roaches, and many species of birds.

There is a lighthouse of the Brazilian Navy that has been in operation and maintained since the 1960s, at the Northern end of Farol Bay. In its vicinity is a derelict lighthouse from 1933.

The atoll is a wildlife sanctuary, and in 2001 was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Numerous turtles, sharks, dolphins and birds live in the area. The atoll consists mainly of coral and red algae. The coral ring is almost closed, with a 200 metres (660 ft) wide channel on the North side and a much narrower channel on the West side.

A biological reserve, it is currently used solely for scientific research. Due to their remote location, the islands remain largely undisturbed by the human activities. On the other hand, it also limits researchers' access to the islands and few studies have been developed in this atoll. The entomological fauna from Atol das Rocas was already recorded.^[1]

Pop culture[link]

The atoll was the site of a missile attack on a Cobra satellite communications tracking station and robotics storage center, in the G.I. Joe comic title from Marvel Comics.^[2]

See also[link]

• Atoll

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sigep - Brazilian Commission of Geological and Palaeobiological Sites Description with maps and pictures (English) - (Portuguese)
• UNESCO - World Heritage (English)
• Further information (German)
• Atol das Rocas on Globo.com (Portuguese)

v t e World Heritage Sites in Brazil North Central Amazon Conservation Complex Northeast Brazilian Atlantic Islands Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves1 Historic Centre of São Luís Historic Centre of Salvador da Bahia Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda Serra da Capivara National Park Central-West Brasília Cerrado Protected Areas Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Park Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás Pantanal Conservation Area Southeast Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves1 Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves1 Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina Historic Town of Ouro Preto Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas South Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves1 Iguaçu National Park Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis2 Ruins of São Miguel das Missões 1 Shared with other region/s 2 Shared with Argentina