Commune de Fakarava Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1977, in France. Situated in the Tuamotu Archipelago, about 360 km north-east of Tahiti, this biosphere reserve comprises seven low-lying coral islands and atolls: Aratika, Fakarava, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau. They differ markedly in size, shape, population, activities, and whether their lagoons are open or closed to the ocean. This diversity makes the Commune de Fakarava Biosphere Reserve unique. Closed systems include Taiaro, with a hypersaline lagoon, and Niau, with a brackish lagoon. Open systems include Fakarava, which has the largest pass in French Polynesia at 1,600 metres wide.