Hamylton S, Andréfouët S (2012)
Discover the Chagos Archipelago
Visit the Chagos Archipelago, one of the world’s largest Marine Protected Areas, using an interactive map, scientific resources, videos, photos and datasets. Discover the plants and animals living in one of the World’s most remote ecosystems.
Resources
Expedition timeline
Journey through time from the historical explorations of the Chagos Archipelago to the current scientific expeditions.
Species Databases
Fishes of Chagos
Find out more about the Sharks and Rays which can be found in the Chagos Archipelago.
Birds of Chagos
The Chagos Archipelago is home to a diverse breeding seabird community, with more than 175,000 pairs of birds visiting each year. Ten of the islands were designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International in 2004.
Corals of Chagos
The Chagos Archipelago consists of five atolls, including The Great Chagos Bank - the largest atoll in the world. Its unique habitats include 66,000 km2 of shallow reefs and it remains home to at least 300 types of coral.
About Chagos
About the Chagos Archipelago
The Chagos Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, and forms the British Indian Ocean Territory. It is home to an astonishing diversity of life, and acts as a refuge for many threatened species. By conserving and restoring this precious environment, we can contribute to important marine conservation and learn much about the natural ecosystems of our world. In 2010 a 640,000 km² ‘no-take’ marine protected area was declared by the British Indian Ocean Territory Commissioner. This means all commercial fishing and extractive activities are prohibited, which is the maximum level of protection.
