Worlds Famous Rock Islands

World famous 70 Islands and home of the Ngerukewid Islands Wildlife Preserve. A shallow lagoon surrounds the Preserve and a western barrier reef protects it from the open ocean's waves. At least 100 species of plants, 28 species of birds, 80 species of coral, 169 species of fish and 260 other marine invertebrates inhabit this Preserve. The relatively small size and the inaccessibility of the Ngerukewid Islands discourage inhabitants. No one is allowed into the Preserve without permission. The Rock Islands are linked in places by long, steep, heavily vegetated strips on upthrusted limestone. Islands are slowly undercut by wave action as well as chemical and biological erosion until, ultimately, they tumble into the lagoon to become a platform for additional coral growth. There are approximately 70 marine lakes in the Rock Islands. The lakes are very different from each other in terms of the marine life found in them. The marine lake vary in size. Smaller Lakes are the size of a small farm pond. Larger lakes can be as long as 1.25 miles.