Three Brothers (islands)
Encyclopedia
The Three Brothers are a group of three small coral island
s 20 km East of Eagle Islands
along the central western rim of the Great Chagos Bank
, which is the world's largest coral atoll
structure, located in the Chagos Archipelago
.
(JSDI). The expedition members were taken by RFA Resurgent to Eagle Islands
and then by ketch
and inflatable craft to Danger Island and then to Three Brothers. The expedition made a topographical survey of the coral reefs, an ecological survey of the corals on it and a study on the metabolism of the reef. A reference collection of samples of the flora and fauna of the area was also undertaken. Small, rocky, Resurgent Island emerged after the naming of the Three Brothers and was named after the RFA Resurgent which supported the 1975 Danger Island scientific research expedition to the area.
Since 1998 the islands are part of the Chagos Archipelago Strict Nature Reserve and it is forbidden to land on the islands or anchor a boat nearby. The islands have large populations of nesting seabirds.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s 20 km East of Eagle Islands
Eagle Islands
Eagle Islands is a group of two islands in the Chagos Archipelago. They are located on the central-western rim of the Great Chagos Bank, which is the world's largest coral atoll structure.-Islands:...
along the central western rim of the Great Chagos Bank
Great Chagos Bank
The Great Chagos Bank, in the Chagos Archipelago, about South of the Maldives, is the largest atoll structure in the world, with a total area of . The Atoll is administered by the UK through the BIOT.-Islands:...
, which is the world's largest coral atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
structure, located in the Chagos Archipelago
Chagos Archipelago
The Chagos Archipelago , is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean; situated some due south of the Maldives archipelago. This chain of islands are the southernmost archipelago of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge a long submarine mountain range...
.
Islands
The individual islands are:- Île du Nord or North Brother (6 ha)
- Île du Milieu or Middle Brother (8 ha)
- unnamed islet (1 ha)
- Île du Sud or South Brother (23 ha)
History
In 1975 during the Joint Services Expedition to Danger IslandDanger Island
Danger Island is the westernmost and the southernmost island of the Great Chagos Bank, which is the world's largest coral atoll structure, located in the Chagos Archipelago.-Description:...
(JSDI). The expedition members were taken by RFA Resurgent to Eagle Islands
Eagle Islands
Eagle Islands is a group of two islands in the Chagos Archipelago. They are located on the central-western rim of the Great Chagos Bank, which is the world's largest coral atoll structure.-Islands:...
and then by ketch
Ketch
A ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft of the main mast, but forward of the rudder post. Both masts are rigged mainly fore-and-aft. From one to three jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to windward...
and inflatable craft to Danger Island and then to Three Brothers. The expedition made a topographical survey of the coral reefs, an ecological survey of the corals on it and a study on the metabolism of the reef. A reference collection of samples of the flora and fauna of the area was also undertaken. Small, rocky, Resurgent Island emerged after the naming of the Three Brothers and was named after the RFA Resurgent which supported the 1975 Danger Island scientific research expedition to the area.
Since 1998 the islands are part of the Chagos Archipelago Strict Nature Reserve and it is forbidden to land on the islands or anchor a boat nearby. The islands have large populations of nesting seabirds.