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Pitcairn Islands

Australia and Oceania

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At 37 sq km, Henderson Island is easily the largest of the four main Pitcairn Islands. Its poor soil and little fresh water, however, make it unsuitable for agriculture, so this raised coral atoll has remained relatively unaffected by human contact and in 1988 it was designated a World Heritage Site by the UN. The island has a remarkable diversity given its small size. Ten of its 51 flowering plants, all four of its land birds, and roughly a third of the identified insects and gastropods are endemic. Nonetheless, its location in the South Pacific Gyre has caused an immense accumulation of debris on its beaches and a reported "highest density of plastic rubbish anywhere in the world." Clean-up plans have been announced. Photo courtesy of NASA.
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