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80-561: Funafuti was first sighted by Europeans in 1819 by Arent Schuyler de Peyster , an American sea captain, who named it Ellice's Island. Between 1850 and 1875, Funafati, with its navigable lagoon, was targeted by blackbirders who kidnapped natives to work at mines off the coast of Peru and Chile. In 1892, each of the Ellice Islands was declared a British protectorate by Captain Herbert Gibson of HMS  Curacoa . In 1909,

160-749: A Darwin Point is reached. One such point exists at the northwestern end of the Hawaiian Archipelago; see Evolution of Hawaiian volcanoes#Coral atoll stage . However, reefs in the Persian Gulf have adapted to temperatures of 13 °C (55 °F) in winter and 38 °C (100 °F) in summer. 37 species of scleractinian corals inhabit such an environment around Larak Island . Deep-water coral inhabits greater depths and colder temperatures at much higher latitudes, as far north as Norway. Although deep water corals can form reefs, little

240-537: A church. The cyclone destroyed the buildings in Fongafale, including the church and the trading stores belonging to George Westbrook and Alfred Restieaux . Despite this, rebuilding work instantly began at Fongafale. In 1892, Captain Edward Davis of HMS  Royalist provided a report describing the traders and trading activities he observed on each of the islands he visited. Davis identified Jack O'Brien as

320-644: A continental shelf, and not around a volcanic island, Darwin's principles apply. Development stopped at the barrier reef stage, since Australia is not about to submerge. It formed the world's largest barrier reef, 300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft) from shore, stretching for 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Healthy tropical coral reefs grow horizontally from 1 to 3 cm (0.39 to 1.18 in) per year, and grow vertically anywhere from 1 to 25 cm (0.39 to 9.84 in) per year; however, they grow only at depths shallower than 150 m (490 ft) because of their need for sunlight, and cannot grow above sea level. As

400-519: A narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres (66 and 1,312 feet) wide, encircling a large lagoon ( Te Namo ) 18 km (11 miles) long and 14 km (9 miles) wide. The average depth of the Funafuti lagoon is about 20 fathoms (120 ft; 37 m). With a surface area of 275 square kilometres (106.2 sq mi), it is by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets around

480-412: A pinhead to 12 inches (30 cm) across. Reef-building or hermatypic corals live only in the photic zone (above 70 m), the depth to which sufficient sunlight penetrates the water. Coral polyps do not photosynthesize, but have a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae ( dinoflagellates ) of the genus Symbiodinium , commonly referred to as zooxanthellae . These organisms live within

560-496: A pseudo-atoll. These can be distinguished from real atolls only by detailed investigation, possibly including core drilling. Some platform reefs of the Laccadives are U-shaped, due to wind and water flow. Atolls or atoll reefs are a more or less circular or continuous barrier reef that extends all the way around a lagoon without a central island. They are usually formed from fringing reefs around volcanic islands. Over time,

640-433: A rapidly subsiding bottom can overwhelm coral growth, killing the coral and the reef, due to what is called coral drowning . Corals that rely on zooxanthellae can die when the water becomes too deep for their symbionts to adequately photosynthesize , due to decreased light exposure. The two main variables determining the geomorphology , or shape, of coral reefs are the nature of the substrate on which they rest, and

720-479: A trader on Funafuti, and O’Brien was also reported to be living on the atoll in 1896. In 1894 Count Rudolph Festetics de Tolna, his wife Eila (née Haggin), and her daughter Blanche Haggin visited Funafuti aboard the yacht Le Tolna . The Count spent several days photographing the men and woman of Funafuti. The population of Funafuti during the years 1860 to 1900 is estimated to have been between 280 and 300 people. The Funafuti Post Office opened around 1911. During

800-423: A zone extending from approximately 30° N to 30° S of the equator. Tropical corals do not grow at depths of over 50 meters (160 ft). The optimum temperature for most coral reefs is 26–27 °C (79–81 °F), and few reefs exist in waters below 18 °C (64 °F). When the net production by reef building corals no longer keeps pace with relative sea level and the reef structure permanently drowns

880-494: Is a list of the islets in the conservation area, in order from north to south, with their estimated areas in hectares: The Darwin's Drill project, conducted by the Royal Society of London in 1896, 1897, and 1898, involved drilling boreholes on Funafuti to test Charles Darwin 's theory of coral atoll formation . The expeditions sought evidence of shallow-water organisms deep within the coral structure. Professor Sollas led

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960-454: Is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals . Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate . Most coral reefs are built from stony corals , whose polyps cluster in groups. Coral belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria , which includes sea anemones and jellyfish . Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons that support and protect

1040-753: Is common in many areas with a tropical rainforest climate, the temperature varies little during the year; average daily temperatures hover around 28 °C (82 °F) year-round. Funafuti International Airport ( IATA : FUN , ICAO : NGFU ) is located on Fongafale . Fiji Airways , the owner of Fiji Airlines (trading as Fiji Link ) operates air transport services three times per week (on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) between Suva and Funafuti. The flights originate in Nadi , and use ATR 72 -600 aircraft, which can carry up to 68 passengers. Fongafale has port facilities and two passenger/cargo ships, Nivaga III and Manu Folau , which make roundtrips between Fongafale and

1120-578: Is constantly changing. Each reef is made up of irregular patches of algae, sessile invertebrates, and bare rock and sand. The size, shape and relative abundance of these patches change from year to year in response to the various factors that favor one type of patch over another. Growing coral, for example, produces constant change in the fine structure of reefs. On a larger scale, tropical storms may knock out large sections of reef and cause boulders on sandy areas to move. Coral reefs are estimated to cover 284,300 km (109,800 sq mi), just under 0.1% of

1200-445: Is directly attached to a shore, or borders it with an intervening narrow, shallow channel or lagoon. It is the most common reef type. Fringing reefs follow coastlines and can extend for many kilometres. They are usually less than 100 metres wide, but some are hundreds of metres wide. Fringing reefs are initially formed on the shore at the low water level and expand seawards as they grow in size. The final width depends on where

1280-523: Is known about them. The northernmost coral reef on Earth is located near Eilat , Israel . Coral reefs are rare along the west coasts of the Americas and Africa , due primarily to upwelling and strong cold coastal currents that reduce water temperatures in these areas (the Humboldt , Benguela , and Canary Currents , respectively). Corals are seldom found along the coastline of South Asia —from

1360-570: Is located on Fongafale, together with the offices of the government departments and the government agencies, including the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation , National Bank of Tuvalu , Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau , Tuvalu Meteorological Service , Tuvalu National Library and Archives and the Tuvalu Media Department that operates Radio Tuvalu . The police service has its headquarters and

1440-450: Is not considered to have an equatorial climate. It sees an extraordinary amount of rainfall throughout the year, being the fourth-wettest national capital in the world behind Monrovia , Freetown and Conakry . Unlike those West African capitals, Funafuti has no dry season : the town has no month in which less than 200 millimetres (7.9 in) rain falls, and an average of about 3,500 millimetres (140 in) of precipitation annually. As

1520-418: Is often the reef's most diverse area. Coral and calcareous algae provide complex habitats and areas that offer protection, such as cracks and crevices. Invertebrates and epiphytic algae provide much of the food for other organisms. A common feature on this forereef zone is spur and groove formations that serve to transport sediment downslope. The reef flat is the sandy-bottomed flat, which can be behind

1600-479: Is responsible for approvals of the construction of houses or extension to an existing buildings on private land and the Lands Management Committee is the responsible authority in relation to lands leased by Government. Funafuti is one of the eight constituencies in Tuvalu, and elects two members of parliament . The 2024 general election in Tuvalu resulted in the re-election of Simon Kofe ,

1680-584: Is the Funafuti Lagoon Hotel , and other guesthouses as well as homes, constructed both in the traditional manner, out of palm fronds, and more recently out of cement blocks. The most prominent building on Funafuti atoll is the Fētu'ao Lima (Morning Star Church) of the Church of Tuvalu . Other sites of interest are the remains of Japanese aircraft that crashed on Funafuti during World War II. The airfield

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1760-475: The Late Cretaceous (100–66 Ma), when reefs formed by a group of bivalves called rudists existed; one of the valves formed the main conical structure and the other, much smaller valve acted as a cap. Measurements of the oxygen isotopic composition of the aragonitic skeleton of coral reefs, such as Porites , can indicate changes in sea surface temperature and sea surface salinity conditions during

1840-739: The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and the New Caledonian Barrier Reef . Barrier reefs are also found on the coasts of Providencia , Mayotte , the Gambier Islands , on the southeast coast of Kalimantan , on parts of the coast of Sulawesi , southeastern New Guinea and the south coast of the Louisiade Archipelago . Platform reefs, variously called bank or table reefs, can form on the continental shelf , as well as in

1920-592: The Middle Cambrian (513–501 Ma ), Devonian (416–359 Ma) and Carboniferous (359–299 Ma), owing to extinct order Rugosa corals, and Late Cretaceous (100–66 Ma) and Neogene (23 Ma–present), owing to order Scleractinia corals. Not all reefs in the past were formed by corals: those in the Early Cambrian (542–513 Ma) resulted from calcareous algae and archaeocyathids (small animals with conical shape, probably related to sponges ) and in

2000-607: The Pacific War (World War II) the Ellice Islands were used as a base to prepare for the subsequent seaborn attacks on the Gilbert Islands ( Kiribati ) that were occupied by Japanese forces . The United States Marine Corps 5th Defense Battalion landed on Funafuti on 2 October 1942; the operation was kept secret until the Japanese discovered it for themselves on 27 March 1943. On Funafuti the islanders were shifted to

2080-500: The United States Exploring Expedition , led by Charles Wilkes , visited Funafuti. The United States claimed Funafuti, along with based on the 1856 Guano Islands Act , and maintained this claim until 1983, when a treaty of friendship , concluded in 1979, went into effect. In the 1850s, John (Jack) O'Brien became the first European to settle in Tuvalu. He became a trader on Funafuti and married Salai,

2160-417: The tropics where the water is agitated, but can only live within a limited depth range, starting just below low tide . Where the level of the underlying earth allows, the corals grow around the coast to form fringing reefs, and can eventually grow to become a barrier reef. Where the bottom is rising, fringing reefs can grow around the coast, but coral raised above sea level dies. If the land subsides slowly,

2240-627: The 1896 expedition and later published a report on the atoll study. Professor Edgeworth David of the University of Sydney participated in the 1896 expedition and led the 1897 effort. Photographers on the expeditions recorded people, communities and scenes at Funafuti. The geological significance of Funafuti in testing Darwin's theory was recognized in October 2022 when the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) included

2320-601: The 2012 census are listed below: The Funafuti atoll's lagoon ( Te Namo in Tuvaluan ) is 24.5 km (15 1 ⁄ 4 miles) long, north to south, and 17.5 km (10 3 ⁄ 4 miles) wide, east to west, and has an area of 275 km (106 sq. mi.), making it by far the largest lagoon in the nation of Tuvalu. It is about 52 metres (28 fathoms) deep in some places, but only 6 metres (3 1 ⁄ 4 fathoms) deep in other places (because it has several submerged rocks and reefs along its bottom, some of which are that close

2400-738: The Indian Ocean, for example, in the Maldives , the Chagos Islands , the Seychelles and around Cocos Island . The entire Maldives consist of 26 atolls. Coral reef ecosystems contain distinct zones that host different kinds of habitats. Usually, three major zones are recognized: the fore reef, reef crest, and the back reef (frequently referred to as the reef lagoon). The three zones are physically and ecologically interconnected. Reef life and oceanic processes create opportunities for

2480-761: The Seventh Day Adventist Primary School and Nauti Primary School, which, combined, have a register of more than 900 pupils. This makes it the largest primary school in Tuvalu (with 45 per cent of the total primary school enrollment). The Church of Tuvalu operates Fetuvalu Secondary School . The University of the South Pacific (USP) Extension Centre on Funafuti operates the Augmented Foundation Programme for sixth form students who pass their Pacific Secondary School Certificate (PSSC) so that students have

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2560-599: The UV radiation and allowing them to better adapt to warmer water temperatures. In the event of UV or thermal damage, if and when repair occurs, it will increase the likelihood of survival of the host and symbiont. This leads to the idea that, evolutionarily, clade A is more UV resistant and thermally resistant than the other clades. Clades B and C are found more frequently in deeper water, which may explain their higher vulnerability to increased temperatures. Terrestrial plants that receive less sunlight because they are found in

2640-1188: The area of France, yet they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species , including fish , mollusks , worms , crustaceans , echinoderms , sponges , tunicates and other cnidarians . Coral reefs flourish in ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water coral reefs exist on smaller scales in other areas. Shallow tropical coral reefs have declined by 50% since 1950, partly because they are sensitive to water conditions. They are under threat from excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), rising ocean heat content and acidification , overfishing (e.g., from blast fishing , cyanide fishing , spearfishing on scuba ), sunscreen use, and harmful land-use practices, including runoff and seeps (e.g., from injection wells and cesspools). Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services for tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection . The annual global economic value of coral reefs has been estimated at anywhere from US$ 30–375 billion (1997 and 2003 estimates) to US$ 2.7 trillion (a 2020 estimate) to US$ 9.9 trillion (a 2014 estimate). Though

2720-489: The atoll in its list of 100 'geological heritage sites' worldwide. There are at least 29 islets in the Funafuti atoll. The largest is Fongafale, followed by Funafala. At least three of these islets are inhabited: Fongafale (the main island) in the east, Funafala in the south, and Amatuku in the north. The district of Funafuti comprises nine villages on six islets, with four of the villages located on Fongafale . Many islands only contain one village. Their populations as of

2800-438: The atoll of Funafuti totals 2.4 square kilometres (0.9 sq mi); taken together, they constitute less than one percent of the total area of the atoll. Much of Funafuti is less than one meter above sea level, making it highly susceptible to flooding. Projections indicate that by 2050, around half of the land area of Funafuti could be submerged during high tides as a result of rising sea levels, and by 2100, as much as 95% of

2880-436: The atoll's airfield, now known as Funafuti International Airport . In October 1972, Cyclone Bebe struck Funafuti, causing extensive damage; despite this Funafuti was chosen as the administrative capital of the newly founded nation of Tuvalu in 1978. As the capital of Tuvalu, Funafuti is by far the most urbanized atoll in the country, and is the hub of governmental, administrative, and economic activities. The atoll consists of

2960-434: The atoll, five people died: two adults and a 3-month-old child were swept away by waves, and two sailors who had been in the wrecked tuna boats were drowned. Cyclone Bebe also knocked down 90% of the area's houses and trees. The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of Fongafale and Funafala that was about 10 miles (16 km) long, and was about 10 feet (3.0 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick at

3040-505: The bottom. The storm surge also destroyed or contaminated the area's sources of fresh drinking water. In June 1996, the Funafuti Conservation Area was established along the western rim of the reef, encompassing six islets. It has an area of 33 square kilometres (13 sq mi), containing 20 per cent of the reef area of Funafuti. The land area of the six islets in the conservation area is 8 ha (20 acres). Below

3120-419: The captain's clerk and a photographer, took pictures of people, communities, and scenery in Funafuti. George Westbrook, a trader based in Funafuti, recorded a tropical cyclone that struck Funafuti on 23–24 December 1883. At the time the cyclone struck, he was the lone inhabitant of Fongafale , Funafuti's largest islet, because Tema, a Samoan missionary, had taken everyone else to Funafala to work on erecting

3200-502: The coast. The fringing reefs of the Red Sea are "some of the best developed in the world" and occur along all its shores except off sandy bays. Barrier reefs are separated from a mainland or island shore by a deep channel or lagoon . They resemble the later stages of a fringing reef with its lagoon but differ from the latter mainly in size and origin. Their lagoons can be several kilometres wide and 30 to 70 metres deep. Above all,

3280-485: The coastal plains had become continental islands . As sea level rise continued, water topped most of the continental islands. The corals could then overgrow the hills, forming cays and reefs. Sea level on the Great Barrier Reef has not changed significantly in the last 6,000 years. The age of living reef structure is estimated to be between 6,000 and 8,000 years. Although the Great Barrier Reef formed along

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3360-451: The coral animals. Coral that loses a large fraction of its zooxanthellae becomes white (or sometimes pastel shades in corals that are pigmented with their own proteins) and is said to be bleached , a condition which, unless corrected, can kill the coral. There are eight clades of Symbiodinium phylotypes . Most research has been conducted on clades A–D. Each clade contributes their own benefits as well as less compatible attributes to

3440-533: The coral. Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated water. Coral reefs first appeared 485 million years ago, at the dawn of the Early Ordovician , displacing the microbial and sponge reefs of the Cambrian . Sometimes called rainforests of the sea , shallow coral reefs form some of Earth's most diverse ecosystems. They occupy less than 0.1% of the world's ocean area, about half

3520-415: The corals shelter the zooxanthellae, averaging one million for every cubic centimetre of coral, and provide a constant supply of the carbon dioxide they need for photosynthesis. The varying pigments in different species of zooxanthellae give them an overall brown or golden-brown appearance and give brown corals their colors. Other pigments such as reds, blues, greens, etc. come from colored proteins made by

3600-608: The country is arguably the Tuvalu Games , which are held yearly since 2008, with teams coming to Funafuti from the outer islands to compete in the games. Football in Tuvalu is played at club and national team level. The Tuvalu national football team trains at the Tuvalu Sports Ground on Funafuti and competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games. The Parliament of Tuvalu or Palamene o Tuvalu

3680-543: The daughter of Funafuti's paramount chief; with his family name continuing on Funafuti. Alfred Restieaux , a native of England, lived and worked as a trader on Funafuti from July 1881 until about 1888 or 1889. In 1882, members of the US Fish Commission visited Funafuti on the USFC Albatross to investigate the formation of coral reefs on Pacific atolls . During that visit, Harry Clifford Fassett ,

3760-529: The deep sea away from continental shelves , around oceanic islands and atolls . The majority of these islands are volcanic in origin. Others have tectonic origins where plate movements lifted the deep ocean floor. In The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs , Charles Darwin set out his theory of the formation of atoll reefs, an idea he conceived during the voyage of the Beagle . He theorized that uplift and subsidence of Earth's crust under

3840-637: The eastern tip of India ( Chennai ) to the Bangladesh and Myanmar borders —as well as along the coasts of northeastern South America and Bangladesh, due to the freshwater release from the Amazon and Ganges Rivers respectively. Significant coral reefs include: When alive, corals are colonies of small animals embedded in calcium carbonate shells. Coral heads consist of accumulations of individual animals called polyps , arranged in diverse shapes. Polyps are usually tiny, but they can range in size from

3920-406: The election of Tuafafa Latasi , and the defeat of incumbent Kausea Natano . Four tertiary institutions on Funafuti offer technical and vocational courses: Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute (TMTI), Tuvalu Atoll Science Technology Training Institute (TASTII), Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) and University of the South Pacific (USP) Extension Centre. There are two junior schools,

4000-479: The exchange of seawater , sediments , nutrients and marine life. Most coral reefs exist in waters less than 50 m deep. Some inhabit tropical continental shelves where cool, nutrient-rich upwelling does not occur, such as the Great Barrier Reef . Others are found in the deep ocean surrounding islands or as atolls, such as in the Maldives . The reefs surrounding islands form when islands subside into

4080-566: The first resident magistrate was appointed to Funafuti; in 1915, Funafuti, along with the rest of the Ellice Islands, were incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands as a crown colony. In October 1942, during World War II, Funafuti was occupied by American forces to serve as a strategic staging ground for the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign . Over the course of the war, the Americans dredged Funafuti's lagoon harbor and established

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4160-401: The floor often supports seagrass meadows which are important foraging areas for reef fish. The reef drop-off is, for its first 50 m, habitat for reef fish who find shelter on the cliff face and plankton in the water nearby. The drop-off zone applies mainly to the reefs surrounding oceanic islands and atolls. The reef face is the zone above the reef floor or the reef drop-off. This zone

4240-403: The fringing reef, barrier reef, atoll and table reef based on Stoddart, D.R. (1969). Spalding et al. list four main reef types that can be clearly illustrated – the fringing reef, barrier reef, atoll, and "bank or platform reef"—and notes that many other structures exist which do not conform easily to strict definitions, including the "patch reef". A fringing reef, also called a shore reef,

4320-463: The fringing reefs keep pace by growing upwards on a base of older, dead coral, forming a barrier reef enclosing a lagoon between the reef and the land. A barrier reef can encircle an island, and once the island sinks below sea level a roughly circular atoll of growing coral continues to keep up with the sea level, forming a central lagoon. Barrier reefs and atolls do not usually form complete circles but are broken in places by storms. Like sea level rise ,

4400-419: The growth of the coral. This technique is often used by climate scientists to infer a region's paleoclimate . Since Darwin's identification of the three classical reef formations – the fringing reef around a volcanic island becoming a barrier reef and then an atoll – scientists have identified further reef types. While some sources find only three, Thomas lists "Four major forms of large-scale coral reefs" –

4480-548: The history of the change in sea level relative to that substrate. The approximately 20,000-year-old Great Barrier Reef offers an example of how coral reefs formed on continental shelves. Sea level was then 120 m (390 ft) lower than in the 21st century. As sea level rose, the water and the corals encroached on what had been hills of the Australian coastal plain. By 13,000 years ago, sea level had risen to 60 m (200 ft) lower than at present, and many hills of

4560-603: The island erodes away and sinks below sea level. Atolls may also be formed by the sinking of the seabed or rising of the sea level. A ring of reefs results, which enclose a lagoon. Atolls are numerous in the South Pacific, where they usually occur in mid-ocean, for example, in the Caroline Islands , the Cook Islands , French Polynesia , the Marshall Islands and Micronesia . Atolls are found in

4640-421: The jail on Fongafale. The High Court of Tuvalu is also located on Fongafale. The Princess Margaret Hospital , the only hospital in Tuvalu, is located on Fongafale. The installed PV capacity in Funafuti in 2020 was 735 kW compared to 1800 kW of diesel (16% penetration). Funafuti has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen climate classification Af ). Because it experiences frequent cyclones, it

4720-556: The land may be flooded regularly. The capital of Tuvalu is sometimes said to be Fongafale or Vaiaku , but, officially, the entire atoll of Funafuti is its capital, since it has a single government that is responsible for the whole atoll. The oral history of Funafuti maintains that its founding ancestor came from the Samoan Islands . The name Funafati is derived from the word "Funa", which means "chief" in Samoan. Furthermore,

4800-418: The main reef, containing chunks of coral. This zone may border a lagoon and serve as a protective area, or it may lie between the reef and the shore, and in this case is a flat, rocky area. Fish tend to prefer it when it is present. The reef lagoon is an entirely enclosed region, which creates an area less affected by wave action and often contains small reef patches. However, the topography of coral reefs

4880-484: The mainland. Unlike fringing and barrier reefs which extend only seaward, platform reefs grow in all directions. They are variable in size, ranging from a few hundred metres to many kilometres across. Their usual shape is oval to elongated. Parts of these reefs can reach the surface and form sandbanks and small islands around which may form fringing reefs. A lagoon may form In the middle of a platform reef. Platform reefs are typically situated within atolls, where they adopt

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4960-400: The name "patch reefs" and often span a diameter of just a few dozen meters. In instances where platform reefs develop along elongated structures, such as old and weathered barrier reefs, they tend to arrange themselves in a linear formation. This is the case, for example, on the east coast of the Red Sea near Jeddah . In old platform reefs, the inner part can be so heavily eroded that it forms

5040-528: The name implies, coral reefs are made up of coral skeletons from mostly intact coral colonies. As other chemical elements present in corals become incorporated into the calcium carbonate deposits, aragonite is formed. However, shell fragments and the remains of coralline algae such as the green-segmented genus Halimeda can add to the reef's ability to withstand damage from storms and other threats. Such mixtures are visible in structures such as Eniwetok Atoll . The times of maximum reef development were in

5120-542: The name of one of the islets, Funafala , means "the pandanus of Funa." Arent Schuyler de Peyster , captain of the armed brigantine privateer vessel Rebecca , was one of the first recorded non-Polynesian visitors to Funafuti. His vessel sailed under British colors, and in May 1819, de Peyster passed through the southern waters of Tuvalu and sighted Funafuti. He named it Ellice Island, after Edward Ellice , an English politician and member of parliament for Coventry. In 1841,

5200-415: The ocean, and atolls form when an island subsides below the surface of the sea. Alternatively, Moyle and Cech distinguish six zones, though most reefs possess only some of the zones. The reef surface is the shallowest part of the reef. It is subject to surge and tides . When waves pass over shallow areas, they shoal , as shown in the adjacent diagram. This means the water is often agitated. These are

5280-528: The oceans formed the atolls. Darwin set out a sequence of three stages in atoll formation. A fringing reef forms around an extinct volcanic island as the island and ocean floor subside. As the subsidence continues, the fringing reef becomes a barrier reef and ultimately an atoll reef. Darwin predicted that underneath each lagoon would be a bedrock base, the remains of the original volcano. Subsequent research supported this hypothesis. Darwin's theory followed from his understanding that coral polyps thrive in

5360-535: The oceans' surface area. The Indo-Pacific region (including the Red Sea , Indian Ocean , Southeast Asia and the Pacific ) account for 91.9% of this total. Southeast Asia accounts for 32.3% of that figure, while the Pacific including Australia accounts for 40.8%. Atlantic and Caribbean coral reefs account for 7.6%. Although corals exist both in temperate and tropical waters, shallow-water reefs form only in

5440-490: The offshore outer reef edge formed in open water rather than next to a shoreline. Like an atoll, it is thought that these reefs are formed either as the seabed lowered or sea level rose. Formation takes considerably longer than for a fringing reef, thus barrier reefs are much rarer. The best known and largest example of a barrier reef is the Australian Great Barrier Reef . Other major examples are

5520-451: The open ocean, in fact anywhere where the seabed rises close enough to the surface of the ocean to enable the growth of zooxanthemic, reef-forming corals. Platform reefs are found in the southern Great Barrier Reef, the Swain and Capricorn Group on the continental shelf, about 100–200 km from the coast. Some platform reefs of the northern Mascarenes are several thousand kilometres from

5600-628: The opportunity to enroll in tertiary education programmes outside of Tuvalu. The Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute (TMTI) is located on the islet of Amatuku . Arent Schuyler de Peyster Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 227107147 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:40:27 GMT Formation of coral reefs A coral reef

5680-711: The outer islands about once every three or four weeks, and also travel between Suva , Fiji, and Funafuti about three or four times a year. In 2015 the Japanese government donated the Nivaga III , to Tuvalu, to replace the Nivaga II , which had served Tuvalu since 1989. The Funafuti Falekaupule is the local council, with the Kaupule as the executive of the Falekaupule. On Fongafale, the Funafuti Kaupule

5760-429: The polyps' tissues and provide organic nutrients that nourish the polyp in the form of glucose , glycerol and amino acids . Because of this relationship, coral reefs grow much faster in clear water, which admits more sunlight. Without their symbionts, coral growth would be too slow to form significant reef structures. Corals get up to 90% of their nutrients from their symbionts. In return, as an example of mutualism ,

5840-420: The precise condition under which corals flourish. The light is sufficient for photosynthesis by the symbiotic zooxanthellae, and agitated water brings plankton to feed the coral. The off-reef floor is the shallow sea floor surrounding a reef. This zone occurs next to reefs on continental shelves. Reefs around tropical islands and atolls drop abruptly to great depths and do not have such a floor. Usually sandy,

5920-412: The sea bed begins to drop steeply. The surface of the fringe reef generally remains at the same height: just below the waterline. In older fringing reefs, whose outer regions pushed far out into the sea, the inner part is deepened by erosion and eventually forms a lagoon . Fringing reef lagoons can become over 100 metres wide and several metres deep. Like the fringing reef itself, they run parallel to

6000-609: The shallow water tropical coral reefs are best known, there are also deeper water reef-forming corals, which live in colder water and in temperate seas. Most coral reefs were formed after the Last Glacial Period when melting ice caused sea level to rise and flood continental shelves . Most coral reefs are less than 10,000 years old. As communities established themselves, the reefs grew upwards, pacing rising sea levels . Reefs that rose too slowly could become drowned, without sufficient light. Coral reefs are also found in

6080-558: The smaller islets, to allow the American forces to build an airfield (now Funafuti International Airport ), along with a 76-bed hospital and the Naval Base Funafuti port facilities on Fongafale islet. In 1972, Funafuti lay in the path of Cyclone Bebe during the 1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season . Bebe was a pre-season tropical cyclone that hit the Gilbert , Ellice , and Fiji island groups. The cyclone system

6160-526: The surface). The deepest basin is in the northern part of the lagoon (the maximum recorded depth is 54.7 metres [30 fathoms]), while the southern part of the lagoon has a very narrow, shallow basin. The Funafuti Conservation Area is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) across the lagoon from the main island of Fongafale , and is accessed by boat. Tausoa Lima Falekaupule is the traditional meeting house on Funafuti. Tausoalima means "hand of friendship" and Falekaupule means "traditional island meeting hall." There

6240-424: The survival of their coral hosts. Each photosynthetic organism has a specific level of sensitivity to photodamage to compounds needed for survival, such as proteins. Rates of regeneration and replication determine the organism's ability to survive. Phylotype A is found more in the shallow waters. It is able to produce mycosporine-like amino acids that are UV resistant , using a derivative of glycerin to absorb

6320-598: Was constructed during World War II by American troops for the Pacific Theater . After the war, it was adapted to serve as the Funafuti International Airport , which serves both as the airstrip for the flights from Fiji as well as providing a place for sporting and other recreational activities. A major sporting event is the "Independence Day Sports Festival", held annually at Fongafale on 1 October. The most important sports event within

6400-435: Was first spotted on 20 October. It intensified and grew in size through 22 October. At about 4 p.m. on Saturday the 21st, sea water bubbled through the coral on the airfield and rose to a height of about 5 feet (1.5 m). Cyclone Bebe continued to ravage the area through Sunday 22 October. The Ellice Islands Colony's ship Moanaraoi , which was in the lagoon, survived. However, three tuna boats were wrecked. As waves broke over

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