In the Heart of the Coral Triangle
The Raja Ampat, or Four Kings Archipelago encompasses more
than 9.8 million acres of land and sea off the northwestern tip of
Indonesia's West Papua Province. Raja Ampat includes the four large
islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool, plus hundreds of
smaller islands. The archipelago is part of an area known as the Bird's
Head functional seascape, which also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the
largest marine national park in Indonesia.
Located in the Coral Triangle, the heart of the world's coral reef
biodiversity, the seas around Raja Ampat are possibly the richest in the
world. The area's massive coral colonies show that its reefs are
resistant to threats like coral bleaching and disease - threats that now
jeopardise the survival of corals around the world. In addition, Raja
Ampat's strong ocean currents sweep coral larvae across the Indian and
Pacific Oceans to replenish other reef ecosystems. Raja Ampat's coral
diversity, resilience, and ability to replenish reefs make it a global
priority for marine protection.
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