Wonders of Niue

Togo Chasm, Niue

Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Australia and Oceania 🢖 Wonders of Polynesia 🢖 Wonders of Niue Territory Wonders of Niue   Highlights Niue is associated with New Zealand – but, nevertheless, this is an independent nation. It is one of the largest coral islands in the world – 260 km² large. Here is no tourist hotspot – in fact, this island is experiencing […]

Hapupu dendroglyphs

Dendroglyph in Rehoa island, Chatham Islands

The richest find of the unique dendroglyphs left by the ancient Moriori people. In 1998 here were found 92 kopi trees (Corynocarpus laevigata) with ancient signs cut by Moriori people centuries ago. There are five groups of dendroglyphs on the islands, where 147 trees with carvings were found in 1998. In the 1950s there were known some 1,400 trees with dendroglyphs, in earlier times dendroglyphs were reported also on Pitt Island. It is possible that these markings are linked to the cult of dead or to burial rituals.

Wonders of Kermadec Islands

Crater of Curtis Island, May 1999, Kermadec Islands

Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Australia and Oceania 🢖 Wonders of Polynesia 🢖 Wonders of New Zealand 🢖 Wonders of Kermadec Islands Territory Wonders of Kermadec Islands   Highlights Kermadec Islands are unique due to extreme volcanic and earthquake activity and many endemic species of plants and animals. These islands are summits of volcanoes that are lined along a deep oceanic trench. Here oceanic earth […]

Wonders of Coral Sea Islands Territory

Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Australia and Oceania 🢖 Wonders of Melanesia 🢖 Wonders of Coral Sea Islands Territory Territory Wonders of Coral Sea Islands Territory   Highlights Coral Sea Islands Territory is large sea area with scattered small islands, a possession of Australia. Just a few of these islands have vegetation, all islands are very low. Only Willis island is inhabited by […]

Wonders of Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands)

South Keeling Island from space

Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Australia and Oceania 🢖 Wonders of Australia 🢖 Wonders of Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands) Territory Wonders of Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands)   Highlights Cocos Islands or Keeling Islands are two low-lying corall atolls – Australian external territory. Map with the described wonders Top wonders of Cocos islands Biological wonders North Keeling natural forest In this forest lives endemic […]

The Dales of Christmas Island

Hugh's Dale Waterfall, Christmas Island

Seven deep valleys formed by spring streams, closer to the sea turning into deep ravines cut in limestone. Above, at the discharge of springs they have flooded the forest dominated by enormous Tahitian chestnuts (Inocarpus fagifer). These pools in the forest form the largest freshwater basin on the island. Endemic plants.

Hosnies Spring mangroves

120,000 years old grove of mangroves some 24 – 37 m above the sea level. Mangrove ecosystems traditionally grow in shallow seawater – but here, as the sea level decreased, mangroves were fed by springs. This is unique case in the world. This 3,300 m² large area (core part, 202 ha in size) contains the oldest trees of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Bruguiera sexangula – 30 – 40 m tall, with trunk diameter up to 80 cm. There are mangroves of other species growing well above the sea level elsewhere on the island.