Remoteness and biodiversity of the Chatham Islands, New Zealand

Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 16 June 2016 at 21:47:52 UTC
Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 09 October 2018 at 21:47:49 UTC
Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 07 January 2019 at 21:47:49 UTC
Author(s): Sentinel Vision team, VisioTerra, France - svp@visioterra.fr
Keyword(s): Archipelago, island, lake, lagoon, biodiversity, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean
Fig. 1 - S2 (16.06.2016) - The Chatham Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about 650 km S-E of New Zealand's North Island.
2D view
The archipelago consists of about 10 islands within an approximate 60 km radius. They sit on the Chatham Rise, an undersea plateau.
Fig. 2 - S2 (07.01.2019) - Over 600 people live on Chatham and Pitt island. A number of species have gone extinct since human settlement.
3D view
Some of the islands, formerly cleared for farming, are now preserved as nature reserves to conserve some of the unique flora and fauna. The islands are home to a rich biodiversity including about 50 endemic plants. The islands are a breeding ground for huge flocks of seabirds and are home to a number of endemic birds, some of which are seabirds and others which live on the islands. Many species of marine mammals are attracted to the rich food sources of the Chatham Rise.
Fig. 3 - S2 (09.10.2018) - The Chathams observe their own time, 45 minutes ahead of New Zealand time.
3D view
The International Date Line lies to the east of the Chathams, even though the islands lie east of 180° longitude.
The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency or the European Union.
Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2024, processed by VisioTerra.
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