Rocas Atoll is located in the Atlantic Ocean. It belongs to the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte. The atoll is located 200 kilometres from the city of Natal. Discovery Rokas was due to a shipwreck in 1503.
Rocas Atoll is of volcanic origin and is formed partly by coral. Rocas is the only atoll in the South Atlantic, and the smallest in the world. In shape, the atoll resembles an oval. It's about 3.7 kilometres long and 2.5 kilometres wide. The lagoon is six metres deep and has an area of about 7 square kilometres.
The highest point of Rokas is the southern sand dune, with a height of about 6 metres high. The atoll consists of a huge amount of red algae and corals. The coral ring is almost closed, the only exception being a single strait, 200 metres wide.
The small islands of the atoll are covered with a variety of grass, shrubs and palm trees. The islands of Rocas are home to various species of spiders, crabs, scorpions and birds. The waters around Rocas are home to sharks, turtles and dolphins.
In 1960, a lighthouse was erected on one of the islands by the Brazilian Navy. In 2001, UNESCO took the atoll under its patronage as a World Heritage site. And nowadays, Rocas Atoll is a protected area. Its islands remain largely untouched by humans due to their remoteness. It is now used for scientific research.
