Farquhar-Atoll

Template: Infobox Atoll / Maintenance / height Missing

The Farquhar Atoll is an atoll in the Indian Ocean, which belongs to the so-called Outer Islands of the Republic of Seychelles. It is the smaller of the two members of the Farquhar Group and atolls located about 770 km southwest of Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles.

The atoll was discovered in 1501 by the Portuguese navigator João da Nova. From 1965 until the independence of Seychelles in 1976 it was part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Geography

The atoll consists of two islands, the Île du Nord and Ile du Sud, and numerous islets ( motu ), which are located mainly in the east of the atoll. The total land area of ​​all islands is 7.5 km ², including the surface of the lagoon, however, about 170.5 km ². The coral reef has two openings ( one in the north, one in the west ) and thus enables booting the entrance to the lagoon. The special feature of Farquhar are rising to over 10 m in height sand dunes. Located on the Ile du Nord there is a small settlement of 15 residents and an airport (ICAO airport code FSFA ).