ALDABRA ATOLL

The remote wilderness of Aldabra Atoll, one of the Seychelles’ southernmost islands, is approximately 1,000 kilometres southwest of the main island of Mahé. The Aldabra group is comprised of a distinct and isolated collection of coral islands. Aldabra itself is the world’s largest raised coral atoll – some 35 kilometres long by 14 kilometres wide, with a total land area of around 140 square kilometres. Its geographical isolation, rough terrain and scarcity of fresh water have deterred large human populations from settling. As a result, Aldabra is significantly less disturbed than other atolls around the world. It is a refuge for many endangered and unique species and remaining as one of the world’s natural wonders. Few people have ever been there, and even fewer have spent more than a couple of hours at this wild and beautiful spot.

Aldabra’s extraordinary terrain is rugged and extremely harsh. It consists mainly of fossilised coral reefs and mushroom-shaped rocks called “champignons”, eroded to form a brittle and dangerously sharp rock. Pavé, a rough limestone, and platin, a flatter limestone, are also found on Aldabra and together they form a rough ring around the central lagoon. The average height above sea level is only eight metres, which is very low considering Aldabra’s vast size. This ring is formed by four main islands (Picard, Grande Terre, Polymnie, and Malabar) and many smaller islets. The only permanent human settlement is on Picard Island.

ABOVE Blacktip reef sharks cruising through the waters of the atoll