Raja Ampat Papua, Paradise Islands

Located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the tip of west Papua, Indonesia. Raja Ampat mean the Four Kings,is a groups of archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals. There are four main islands at Raja Ampat is Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. Located in the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat become the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity, the seas around Raja Ampat possibly hold the richest variety of species in the world.

Raja Ampat's pristine beauty, both above the water and below the water, is truly unrivalled. Its remote location and lack of infrastructure have inhibited the growth of tourism. This area's staggering abundance of marine life is due in part to its incredibly low human population density. Beneath the dense jungle canopy, the islands are primarily karst limestone, which are dry, inhospitable, and overwhelmingly vertical. The few resident Papuans are mainly a subsistence society, exploiting a variety of resources to meet their basic needs. Fishing is only one of these resources, and they continue to employ traditional, low-impact fishing techniques, using a hook and line from dug-out canoes.



The area’s massive coral colonies show that its reefs are resistant to threats like coral bleaching and disease —threats that now jeopardize the survival of corals around the world. In addition, Raja Ampat’s strong ocean currents sweep coral larvae across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to replenish other reef ecosystems. Raja Ampat’s coral diversity, resilience to threats, and ability to replenish reefs make it a global priority for marine protection. Survey Confirms Highest Marine Biodiversity on Earth.



Visit Papua, Indonesia.

source:
http://www.rajaampat.org/
http://travels.patrik.com/ra/