The Indispensable Reefs are a chain of three large coral atolls in the Coral Sea. They are located about 50 km (30 mi) south of Rennell Island. The chain stretches over a length of 114 km (71 mi) and its average width is 18 km (11 mi).
Map of Rennell IslandsNASA picture of the three atolls forming the Indispensable Reef North Reef is right
The three atolls are steep-to and each encloses a large deep lagoon. They are separated by deep passages two to three km (1.2–1.9 mi) wide. The atolls of the Indispensable Reef are aligned in a NW-SE direction:[1]
North Reef is 18 km (11 mi) long, and up to 7 km (4.3 mi) wide. The rim of the atoll has two narrow openings in the north and northwest. The reef has a total area of 100 km2 (39 sq mi), including lagoon and reef flat. There are no islets.
Middle Reef is 51 km (32 mi) long. Little Nottingham Islet is a small islet located near the center of the reef. Besides its main lagoon, Middle Reef has a separate smaller northern lagoon. The total area is about 300 km2 (120 sq mi).
South Reef is 21 km (13 mi) long and up to 8 km (5.0 mi) wide. It encloses a lagoon 18 to 35 metres (59 to 115 ft) deep. The total area exceeds 100 km2 (39 sq mi).
The ship Neptune struck Indispensable Reef on August 3, 1868, and was lost. The crew was rescued by the SS Boomerang.[citation needed]
During the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7, 1942, two Japanese carrier attack planes B5N2 (EI-306 and probably EI-302) flying reconnaissance mission from the carrier Shokaku ditched on Indispensable Reef due to lack of fuel.[2]
Japanese B5N torpedo bomber (aircraft number EI-306) wrecked on Indispensable Reefs
In the 1980s, the Solomon Islands Government apprehended a vessel from Taiwan that had been poaching the giant clam stocks of Indispensable Reef.[citation needed] Corals and endangered fish species are also being plundered for the aquarium trade.[citation needed]
^"Sector 7. The Solomon Islands—East Part" (PDF). Publication 126. nss.nima.mil. n.d. pp. 183–201. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
^LUNDSTROM, John B. The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway. Annapolis, Maryland : Naval Institute Press, 2005. ISBN1-59114-471-X. page 205
External linksEdit
Corals: (PDF). World Atlas of Coral Reefs. 19 May 2003. pp. 330–333. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
indispensable, reefs, chain, three, large, coral, atolls, coral, they, located, about, south, rennell, island, chain, stretches, over, length, average, width, rennell, islandsnasa, picture, three, atolls, forming, indispensable, reefnorth, reef, rightadministr. The Indispensable Reefs are a chain of three large coral atolls in the Coral Sea They are located about 50 km 30 mi south of Rennell Island The chain stretches over a length of 114 km 71 mi and its average width is 18 km 11 mi Map of Rennell IslandsNASA picture of the three atolls forming the Indispensable ReefNorth Reef is rightAdministratively the Indispensable Reef belongs to the Rennell and Bellona Province of the Solomon Islands They are locally called Goto akau citation needed The three atolls are steep to and each encloses a large deep lagoon They are separated by deep passages two to three km 1 2 1 9 mi wide The atolls of the Indispensable Reef are aligned in a NW SE direction 1 North Reef is 18 km 11 mi long and up to 7 km 4 3 mi wide The rim of the atoll has two narrow openings in the north and northwest The reef has a total area of 100 km2 39 sq mi including lagoon and reef flat There are no islets Middle Reef is 51 km 32 mi long Little Nottingham Islet is a small islet located near the center of the reef Besides its main lagoon Middle Reef has a separate smaller northern lagoon The total area is about 300 km2 120 sq mi South Reef is 21 km 13 mi long and up to 8 km 5 0 mi wide It encloses a lagoon 18 to 35 metres 59 to 115 ft deep The total area exceeds 100 km2 39 sq mi Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe ship Neptune struck Indispensable Reef on August 3 1868 and was lost The crew was rescued by the SS Boomerang citation needed During the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7 1942 two Japanese carrier attack planes B5N2 EI 306 and probably EI 302 flying reconnaissance mission from the carrier Shokaku ditched on Indispensable Reef due to lack of fuel 2 nbsp Japanese B5N torpedo bomber aircraft number EI 306 wrecked on Indispensable ReefsIn the 1980s the Solomon Islands Government apprehended a vessel from Taiwan that had been poaching the giant clam stocks of Indispensable Reef citation needed Corals and endangered fish species are also being plundered for the aquarium trade citation needed See also Edit nbsp Islands portalDesert island List of islandsReferences Edit Sector 7 The Solomon Islands East Part PDF Publication 126 nss nima mil n d pp 183 201 Retrieved 6 June 2014 LUNDSTROM John B The First Team Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press 2005 ISBN 1 59114 471 X page 205External links Edithttps web archive org web 20080120072247 http solomonislands com sb indispensablereefs html Corals Solomon Islands PDF World Atlas of Coral Reefs 19 May 2003 pp 330 333 Archived from the original PDF on 19 May 2003 Retrieved 6 June 2014 Sunken ships 1 Ecological concern 2 12 40 S 160 25 E 12 667 S 160 417 E 12 667 160 417 nbsp This Solomon Islands location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Indispensable Reefs amp oldid 1168418033, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
