Cocos Islands-English Version (Dsclp Madaleno!)

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are made up of 27 islands formed on two relatively small isolated mid oceanic atolls, on which Charles Darwin based his theory on coral atoll formation in 1836. The Islands are Australia's most isolated Western Territory, situated approximately 2,700 kilometres north-west of Perth, 3,800 km north-west of Darwin and 1,000 km south-west of Java.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands include two separate atolls 24 km apart. The main atoll consists of 26 islands surrounding an azure lagoon and North Keeling Island, a seabird rookery of worldwide significance, located 24km to the north. The Islands represent a carbonate reefal capping formed on top of an old volcanic seamount that rises from a depth of 5,000 metres from the Indian Ocean floor, known as the Cocos rise.

Samples of coral shingle taken from Home Island indicate that the age of the island is estimated to be in the range of 1400-1800 years before present. Cyclone season is declared during October to April, however a cyclone has been recorded during every month of the year. Cyclone Doreen reached a maximum of 176km\h and came within 20km of Cocos in 1968, however there are close calls each year as cyclones narrowly miss Cocos.

Average rainfall is 2020mm. The Cocos Islands lie in the path of the south-east trade winds which ensure an extremely uniform weather pattern throughout the year. The day-time temperatures rarely exceeds 30øC, with night-time temperatures rarely below 23øC.The South East Trade winds blow for nine months of the year at 15-20 knots.

The total land mass of the southern atoll covers 1415 ha with a turquoise coloured internal lagoon area of 110 square kilometres. The atoll is surrounded by 52 kilometres of fringing reef, white sands and shady coconut trees - Life's a Beach.