If you look really close, you can see people on the beach - doing stuff.

April 6, 2008 9:47 PM

274 Atolls.

"This page is a doorway to a very large gallery of the world's atolls. The atolls presented here are by no means exhaustive of all those that are known — many are not included. Atolls which have lost their lagoons, such as Jarvis Island and Nukutuvake, are not included. Atolls that are classed as "almost atolls", such as Aitutaki and Raivavae, are not included. Raised atolls, such as Atiu, are not included. Sunken atolls, partly sunken atolls and atolls that have lost their islands are included." oceandots.com

posted by bigmusic (20 comments total)

incredibly cool, +1
posted by [son] QUAALUDE at 10:18 PM on April 6, 2008

but can you really see people doing stuff? ;D
posted by [son] QUAALUDE at 10:19 PM on April 6, 2008

All atoll aficionados (both of them) would love The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost, a travelogue of one man's 2-year stay on the Tarawa Atoll (a miserable place to live by any standard of measure).
posted by HotPatatta at 10:22 PM on April 6, 2008

I think we sunk the atolls, 'server not responding'.
posted by tellurian at 10:27 PM on April 6, 2008

probably from me clicking on all the pics to find the tiny people on the beach
posted by [son] QUAALUDE at 10:33 PM on April 6, 2008

wikipedia (with animation showing atoll formation)
posted by Brian B. at 10:38 PM on April 6, 2008

I once worked on Aitutaki. I don't care if anyone thinks it's an almost atoll, it will always be beautiful to me in it's own almost-atoll way.
posted by allen.spaulding at 10:52 PM on April 6, 2008

I think we sunk the atolls, 'server not responding'.
posted by tellurian at 12:27 AM on April 7 [+] [!]

Well damn, Coral Cache sucks - here's the original page - I wanted to take it easy on the guys bandwidth.
posted by bigmusic at 11:33 PM on April 6, 2008

Heehee! 'Coral Cache sucks'. Thanks bigmusic.
allen.spaulding: I once worked on Aitutaki
Wow! What a stunning island.
posted by tellurian at 12:08 AM on April 7, 2008

This site will only be useful until the melting polar icecaps drown them.

So look fast.
posted by bwg at 1:35 AM on April 7, 2008

I once worked on Aitutaki

How in the world do I score that gig?
posted by sidereal at 5:32 AM on April 7, 2008

I think it's fantastic that atolls form via the delicate balance of geological and biological action. Magma upwelling from deep inside the earth perfectly counterpointed by little corals growing, resulting in a beautiful tropical island with a warm, shark-infested central lagoon.
posted by Nelson at 7:34 AM on April 7, 2008

If you look closely, you can see a woman with no Bikini atoll.
posted by stargell at 7:37 AM on April 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

Christ, what an atoll.
posted by stet at 8:09 AM on April 7, 2008

Don't use the link, it's to www.oceandots.com.nyud.net, taking you to nyud.net for no good reason (and maybe for bad reasons!) Got blocked by my webfilter; here's the direct link to oceandots.com.
posted by setver at 9:09 AM on April 7, 2008

setver: the nyud.net is a mirror of the website, I wanted to take it easy on the guys webserver. A full explanation of how coral cache works.
posted by bigmusic at 10:26 AM on April 7, 2008

This site will only be useful until the melting polar icecaps drown them.

My wife and I honeymooned in the Maldives last year. I could have sworn I was told that the whole country averages no more than 3 meters above sea level.
posted by JaredSeth at 10:35 AM on April 7, 2008

Mururoa is where the French performed nuclear testing up until 1996...

If it's safe, test it in Paris...
posted by bruzie at 1:08 PM on April 7, 2008

In Bucky Fuller's book Critical Path, he asserts that atolls are the ideal place for human evolution to take place. If you're stuck with pre-stone age technology, it's hard to argue with year-round omni-awesome weather and all the free fish and coconuts you can eat.

I lived in the Chuuk islands for six months and aside from the non-biodegradable garbage everywhere, the place was beautiful.
posted by mullingitover at 1:52 PM on April 7, 2008

My fave was the one in Beanie and Cecil: The No-Bikini Atoll. (rimshot)

Thank you, thank you. I'm here through the weekend. Try the veal, it's delicious.
posted by Mental Wimp at 4:49 PM on April 7, 2008