Vattaru Reef

Vattaru Reef
  • ISS002-E-7257
  • 18 June 2001
  • 07:22 UTC

Vattaru Falhu (Vattaru Reef) is a small, oval-shaped, atoll formation located between the much larger atolls of Felidhoo (4 km to the northeast) and Mulaku (4 km to the south) — see panoramic image. For administrative purposes the atoll is part of the Vaavu Atoll unit, which also includes Felidhoo.

The atoll — measuring 8 km east to west and 6 km north to south — rises sharply from the sea floor, despite its close proximity to its larger neighbours, and consists of a narrow reef rim that is continuous except for the 100 m wide, 35 m deep, Vattaru Kandu passage on the southern side (right-side, in the above image). The atoll contains a single unvegetated sand cay (Vattaru), located on the eastern side of the lagoon entrance — although it is not visible in this image.


image: earth sciences and image analysis laboratory, nasa johnson space center

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