The Aldabra rail, the last flightless bird of the Western Indian Ocean, inhabits the Atoll. Around 152,000 giant tortoises have been identified in the region. The atoll is home to the largest population of giant tortoises in the world. Over 400 flora and fauna species and subspecies reside on the island, and their ongoing interactions with nature present unique opportunities for scientific studies. Continuing ecological and biological processes provide the opportunity for scientific research. The Aldabra Atoll represents one of the most significant natural habitats for research in ecological and evolutionary processes since it has been largely free from human interference through the years. These have been continuously raised above sea level for the last 125,000 years. Most of the land surface of the Aldabra Atoll is made of exposed coral reefs. The Atoll is situated in the dry zone of the southwest Indian Ocean. On an annual basis, rainfall in the Atoll is recorded at an average of 960 millimeters. The Atoll lies off the coast of Africa near Madagascar and Comoros Islands.The heaviest rainfall on the Atoll is recorded between November and March. The larger islands of Aldabra Atoll are situated around the lagoon’s rim. The Atoll stretches 13 kilometers wide and 34 kilometers long, and surrounds a lagoon that is 196 square kilometers in surface area. Rising to an elevation of 8 meters, Aldabra Atoll is the largest raised coral reef to be found in the world. The Aldabra Atoll is made up of 4 large islands and 40 smaller islands. The Atoll was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its biodiversity, scenic beauty, and land forms. Due to its remote location and lack of freshwater, the Atoll’s ecological processes have been uninterrupted by human activities. Being the second largest coral atoll in the world, Aldabra is the most far-flung island of the greater Seychelles Archipelago. The islands of Aldabra, the lagoon they surround, and their outlying coral reefs house thousands of giant tortoises along with other intriguing fauna.
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