The world's largest raised coral atoll is a living laboratory in the Pacific

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: East Rennell, the southern portion of the Solomon Islands' largest coral atoll, is a pristine natural sanctuary. Home to Lake Tegano and a wealth of endemic species, this UNESCO site serves as a vital scientific laboratory. Yet, despite its protected status, the area faces significant threats from surrounding industrial activity.

Rennell Island, situated in the Western Pacific, holds the distinction of being the largest raised coral atoll on the planet. Spanning 37,000 hectares, the island is largely blanketed in dense, untouched forest. At its southern end lies Lake Tegano, a brackish body of water that once served as the atoll's lagoon. This unique environment, designated as a World Heritage Site in 1998, includes the lake, its surrounding land, and marine areas extending three nautical miles offshore. Scientists view the region as a true natural laboratory, offering a rare glimpse into an ecosystem largely undisturbed by modern development.

The biodiversity within East Rennell is remarkable. The island supports 50 recorded bird species, 21 of which are endemic, earning it recognition as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Among its unique inhabitants are the silver-capped fruit dove, the Rennell parrot, and the Rennell shrikebill. The aquatic life is equally specialized; Lake Tegano is the exclusive home of the endemic Crocker's sea snake. Furthermore, the region hosts 11 bat species, 27 types of land snail, and nearly 730 insect species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Approximately 800 people live in four villages surrounding Lake Tegano, maintaining a subsistence lifestyle as farmers and fishermen. A 2007 management plan formally recognizes their traditional rights, with the IUCN noting that local customary ownership often proves more effective for conservation than centralized government control. However, the site's integrity is fragile. In 2013, UNESCO placed East Rennell on the List of World Heritage in Danger. While the site itself remains protected, logging operations on the western end of the island threaten the broader forest habitat, endangering the bird populations that rely on the island's interconnected ecosystem for survival.

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