Agalega

Location and Geography

• Agalega is a coral atoll situated approximately 700 km north of Mauritius at latitude 10°24' south and longitude 56°38' east. It comprises two main islands, North Island and South Island, completely encircled by a fringing coral reef.

Area

• Land area: Approximately 26 km²
• Lagoon area: Enclosed by the reef, ranging from 25 to 100 meters wide
• Total reef area: ~100 km²

Islands

• North Island: Elongated island stretching along a northwest-southeast axis, about 12.5 km long and 1.5 km wide.
• South Island: Pear-shaped island, approximately 7 kilometers long and 4.5 kilometers wide.
• Separation: The two islands are divided by a shallow strip of water about 1 km wide, passable on foot during low tide.
• Access: Due to the lack of natural navigable passages, an artificial pass has been built in the North Island reef.

Climate 

(Data sources: Government of Mauritius 2005, Mauritius Meteorological Services 2010)

• Agalega experiences a hot, torrid, and humid tropical climate.
• Temperature: There is minimal seasonal variation in temperature.
• Average summer temperature: 27.4 degrees Celsius
• Average winter temperature: 25.6 degrees Celsius
• Rainfall: Agalega receives rainfall year-round despite its low elevation.
• Long-term annual average rainfall: 1,710 mm

Seasonal distribution:

• Summer (wetter): Receives 1,170 mm, accounting for 68% of total rainfall
• Winter (drier): Receives around 540 mm annually
• Wettest month: January
• Driest month: September 

Population and Economy

• Population: Agalega has a small population of approximately 274 inhabitants.

Main economic activity

• Coconut plantation is the primary economic activity on the islands.
• While not a regular activity, fishing provides seafood for local consumption.

As the island has no natural passes sufficiently large to permit navigation, an artificial pass has been created in the reef of North Island to provide access to the land.

Flora and Fauna

• Vegetation: Mangrove swamps cover both North and South Island.
• Wildlife: Terrestrial fauna is limited. However, the Ibis is a unique bird found on Agalega.
• Marine life: The surrounding coral reef supports a rich marine ecosystem.

source: Google Earth