BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Revillagigedo Islands Discovered — December 28, 1533 by Spanish explorer Hernando de Grijalva Islands — 4 (Socorro, San Benedicto, Roca Partida & Clarión) Type — Volcanic Country — Mexico Location — Eastern Pacific Ocean Co-Ordinates — 18°49’N 112°46’W Time Zone — (-7 hours) GMT Total Area — 157.81 km2 San Benedictio (5.94km2) Socorro (132.06km2) Roca Partida (0.014km2) Clarión (19.80km2)
Highest Peak — Mount Evermann 1130m (Socorro) Population — Socorro (250) Clarión (9) (Naval Stations) Otherwise uninhabited Other Information — Nicknamed Mexico’s ‘Little Galapogos, No reliable fresh water source, No tourism facilities. Ecology — Socorro Dove & Socorro Elf Owl are now extinct in the wild. The Socorro Mockingbirds, Parakeets & Puffins are also under threat. Variety of Manta Rays & Sharks including the Great White.
BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Kermadec Islands Discovered — Polynesian people settled the Kermadec Islands in the 14th century, The first Europeans to reach the area — the Lady Penrhyn in May 1788 — found no inhabitants. Islands — 15 (The main islands include Raoul, Macauley, Curtis, Cheeseman & Meyer
Population — Uninhabited apart from a permanently manned governement meteorological station on Raoul Island. Other Information — The islands are peaks of volcanoes from the largest underwater volcanic arc in the world, frequently hit by earthquakes, Raoul & Curtis Islands are active volcanoes, the Islands sit along the 8km deep Kermadec Ridge, Several earthquakes of over 7 on the Richter Scale have been reported.
Type — Volcanic, Subtropical Country — New Zealand Location — South Western Pacific Ocean Co-Ordinates — 29°16’37”S 177°55’24”W Time Zone — (+13 hours) GMT Total Area — 33.08 km2 Highest Peak — Moumoukai peak 516 m (Raoul)
Ecology — Recognised as a distinct ecoregion, 23 endemic plant species, Dense subtropical forest on Raoul, Kermadec Red-crowned Parakeet is endemic,
BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Tristan da Cunha Discovered — The islands were first sighted in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha, although rough seas prevented a landing.
Population — 264 people live on Tristan da Cunha itself. The other islands are uninhabited.
Other Information — The islands are the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying 2,816 kilometres (1,750 mi) Islands — 4 Main Islands: Tristan da Cunha, from the nearest land. Inaccessible Island, Gough Island, Nightingale Islands (+Middle Island & Ecology — The Inaccessible Island Rail is Stoltenhoff Island the smallest extant flightless bird in the world and endemic to Inaccessible Island, Type — Volcanic The climate is marine subtropical with small temperature differences between Country — United Kingdom summer and winter and between day and night. Location — Southern Atlantic Ocean Co-Ordinates — 37°6’44”S 12°16’56”W Time Zone — (+/- 0 hours) GMT Total Area — 207 km2 Highest Peak — Queen Mary’s Peak 2,062m
BRIEF 4 — UNKNOWN ISLANDS RESEARCH
Name — Paracel Islands Discovered — 618–1279: There are some Chinese cultural relics in the Paracel Islands dating from the Tang and Song dynasty eras and there is some evidence of Chinese habitation on the islands in these periods. Islands — 30 Islands, Islets & Sandbanks. The main islands are Rocky, Tree & Woody. Type — Coral/Rocky/Sandbanks Country — China (Disputed by Vietnam) Location — South China Sea Co-Ordinates — 16°30’N 112°00’E Time Zone — (+8 hours) GMT Total Area — 518 km2 Highest Peak — Rocky Island 14m
Population — Uninhabited apart from a small number of Chinese troops. Other Information — The islands are divided into two main groups. The Amphitrite group is in the northeast and the Crescent group is in the southwest, and they are located about 70 km from one another. The island has been open for tourists since 1997 as announced by the government of People’s Republic of China. There are two museums, a Naval Museum and a Maritime Museum, on Woody Island. Ecology — Subject to hot and humid climate, with abundant rainfall and frequent typhoons, the archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves.