Phoenix Islands Protected Area, Hawaii and Fiji

These islands are located between Hawaii and Fiji and cover an area of 408,250 km². The area is a habitat for marine and terrestrial organisms in the South Pacific. The heritage site includes the Phoenix Islands, one of the three largest islands in Kiribati, and is the world’s largest designated marine protected area. The protected area contains a well-preserved marine coralline ecosystem, 14 known seamount peaks (presumably extinct) and other deep-sea habitats. Approximately 800 animal species are known in the area, including approximately 200 coral species, 500 species of fish, 18 species of marine mammals and 44 species of birds. The structure and function of the protected area ecosystem demonstrate the original ecological natural characteristics as well as the importance of species migration routes and gene banks.