342
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
r~
Fiji
MAP I2f
Fiji
is a vast archipelago centered on two relatively
shallow geological features, the Fiji Platform and
the Lau Ridge. Geologically, the area lies on the
Indo-Pacific plate close to the boundary with the Pacific
plate, in an area of relatively complex geology and
fracturing. The two largest islands of Viti Levu and Vanua
Levu, together with quite a number of smaller ones, lie
on the relatively shallow Fiji Platform. Fringing reefs
surround most of Viti Levu, with the largest continuous
fringing reef running for 100 kilometers along the Coral
Coast on its southern shore. Offshore from eastern Viti
Levu the Suva Barrier Reef follows the shelf edge up
to the island of Ovalau. The northern coast of Viti Levu
is dominated by a very complex array of platform reef
structures and intervening channels. Running northeast at
some distance west of Viti Levu is a string of high islands
known as the Yasawa group, again with an associated
complex of fringing and patch reefs. These islands lie
close to the edge of the Fiji Platform, and part of this
shelf-edge is capped by Ethel Reef, a 30 kilometer barrier
reef Immediately south of Viti Levu is the island of
Beqa, enclosed to the south and west by the Beqa Barrier
Reef. Further south, the large island of Kadavu is
separated from the Fiji Platform by the Kadavu Passage.
40 km
This island has fringing reefs along much of its coastline,
but is further dominated by a 95 kilometer long barrier
reef rurming along its southern and eastern coasts and
extending into the Great Astrolabe and North Astrolabe
Reefs.
The line of the Yasawa group in the west is continued
eastwards towards Vanua Levu by Fiji's longest barrier
reef structure, the Great Sea Reef which runs along
the shelf edge in a near continuous chain for over 200
kilometers, gradually converging towards the coastline of
Vanua Levu at its northeastern tip. The Vatu Ira Channel
between the two high islands is a tongue of deeper water,
also fringed by elongated barrier reef structures including
the Vanua Levu Barrier Reef along the eastern edge of this
channel and up to the southern shore of Vanua Levu.
Much of the southern shores of Vanua Levu are lined by
fringing reefs, while the northern edge is marked by a
similar complex of platform reefs to that along Viti Levu.
Out to the east lies a complex of islands and reefs
collectively termed the Ringgold Islands. These include
several atolls, and also Budd Reef which is a nearatoll, with a group of high islets located in its lagoon.
A group of reefs on the outer edge of the Ringgold Islands
make up the Nukusemanu and Heemskercq Reefs, parts
This broad view shows northern Viti Levu and western Vanua Levu, inctuding the complex platform reef structures
along the northern shores of both islands ISTS027-32-34, 19881.
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
r~
Fiji
MAP I2f
Fiji
is a vast archipelago centered on two relatively
shallow geological features, the Fiji Platform and
the Lau Ridge. Geologically, the area lies on the
Indo-Pacific plate close to the boundary with the Pacific
plate, in an area of relatively complex geology and
fracturing. The two largest islands of Viti Levu and Vanua
Levu, together with quite a number of smaller ones, lie
on the relatively shallow Fiji Platform. Fringing reefs
surround most of Viti Levu, with the largest continuous
fringing reef running for 100 kilometers along the Coral
Coast on its southern shore. Offshore from eastern Viti
Levu the Suva Barrier Reef follows the shelf edge up
to the island of Ovalau. The northern coast of Viti Levu
is dominated by a very complex array of platform reef
structures and intervening channels. Running northeast at
some distance west of Viti Levu is a string of high islands
known as the Yasawa group, again with an associated
complex of fringing and patch reefs. These islands lie
close to the edge of the Fiji Platform, and part of this
shelf-edge is capped by Ethel Reef, a 30 kilometer barrier
reef Immediately south of Viti Levu is the island of
Beqa, enclosed to the south and west by the Beqa Barrier
Reef. Further south, the large island of Kadavu is
separated from the Fiji Platform by the Kadavu Passage.
40 km
This island has fringing reefs along much of its coastline,
but is further dominated by a 95 kilometer long barrier
reef rurming along its southern and eastern coasts and
extending into the Great Astrolabe and North Astrolabe
Reefs.
The line of the Yasawa group in the west is continued
eastwards towards Vanua Levu by Fiji's longest barrier
reef structure, the Great Sea Reef which runs along
the shelf edge in a near continuous chain for over 200
kilometers, gradually converging towards the coastline of
Vanua Levu at its northeastern tip. The Vatu Ira Channel
between the two high islands is a tongue of deeper water,
also fringed by elongated barrier reef structures including
the Vanua Levu Barrier Reef along the eastern edge of this
channel and up to the southern shore of Vanua Levu.
Much of the southern shores of Vanua Levu are lined by
fringing reefs, while the northern edge is marked by a
similar complex of platform reefs to that along Viti Levu.
Out to the east lies a complex of islands and reefs
collectively termed the Ringgold Islands. These include
several atolls, and also Budd Reef which is a nearatoll, with a group of high islets located in its lagoon.
A group of reefs on the outer edge of the Ringgold Islands
make up the Nukusemanu and Heemskercq Reefs, parts
This broad view shows northern Viti Levu and western Vanua Levu, inctuding the complex platform reef structures
along the northern shores of both islands ISTS027-32-34, 19881.