Indispensable Reefs
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Rennell_Islands_map_en.png/300px-Rennell_Islands_map_en.png)
TheIndispensable Reefsare a chain of three large coralatollsin theCoral Sea.They are located about 50 km (30 mi) south ofRennell Island.The chain stretches over a length of 114 km (71 mi) and its average width is 18 km (11 mi).
Administratively the Indispensable Reef belongs to theRennell and Bellona ProvinceofSolomon Islands.They are locally called "Goto'akau".[citation needed]
The three atolls are steep-to and each encloses a large deeplagoon.They are separated by deep passages two to three km (1.2–1.9 mi) wide. The atolls of the Indispensable Reef are aligned in a NW-SE direction:[1]
- North Reefis 18 km (11 mi) long, and up to 7 km (4.3 mi) wide. The rim of the atoll has two narrow openings in the north and northwest. The reef has a total area of 100 km2(39 sq mi), including lagoon and reef flat. There are no islets.
- Middle Reef is 51 km (32 mi) long. Little Nottingham Islet is a small islet located near the centre of the reef. Besides its main lagoon, Middle Reef has a separate smaller northern lagoon. The total area is about 300 km2(120 sq mi).
- South Reef is 21 km (13 mi) long and up to 8 km (5.0 mi) wide. It encloses a lagoon 18 to 35 metres (59 to 115 ft) deep. The total area exceeds 100 km2(39 sq mi).
History[edit]
The shipNeptunestruck Indispensable Reef on 3 August 1868, and was lost. The crew was rescued by theSS Boomerang.[citation needed]
During theBattle of the Coral Seaon 7 May 1942, two Japanese carrier attack planesB5N2(EI-306 and probably EI-302) flying reconnaissance mission from the carrierShokakuditched on Indispensable Reef due to lack of fuel.[2]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/80-G-7661.jpg/220px-80-G-7661.jpg)
In 1983, the Solomon Islands Government apprehended a vessel fromTaiwanthat had been poaching thegiant clamstocks around Indispensable Reef.[3]Corals and endangered fish species are also being plundered for the aquarium trade.[citation needed]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"Sector 7. The Solomon Islands—East Part"(PDF).Publication 126.nss.nima.mil. n.d. pp. 183–201.Retrieved6 June2014.
- ^LUNDSTROM, John B.The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2005.ISBN1-59114-471-X.page 205
- ^Govan, H.; Nichols, P.V.; Tafea, H. (1988). "Giant clam resource investigations in Solomon Islands". In Copland, JW; Lucas, JS (eds.).Giant clams in Asia and the Pacific. ACIAR Monograph(PDF).pp. 54–57.Retrieved3 July2024.
External links[edit]
- https://web.archive.org/web/20080120072247/http://solomonislands.com.sb/indispensablereefs.html
- Corals:"Solomon Islands"(PDF).World Atlas of Coral Reefs.19 May 2003. pp. 330–333. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 19 May 2003.Retrieved6 June2014.
- Sunken ships:[1]
- Ecological concern:[2]