Lord Howe Island - Australia

 Lord Howe Island, island dependency of New South Wales, Australia. It is situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean some 700 km northeast of Sydney. Lord Howe Island is UNESCO World Heritage paradise where lush rainforests meet crystal-clear waters. With only 400 visitors allowed at a time, this secluded haven offers world-class snorkelling, hiking, and unforgettable encounters with rare marine life and rare birds.

 

Photograph: Jon Cornforth Images

AU-1035780, sent by Peter.

The Lord Howe Island Group is an outstanding example of oceanic islands of volcanic origin containing a unique biota of plants and animals, as well as the world’s most southerly true coral reef. It is an area of spectacular and scenic landscapes encapsulated within a small land area, and provides important breeding grounds for colonies of seabirds as well as significant natural habitat for the conservation of threatened species.

 

Photo: John Buttler 

 Iconic species include endemics such as the flightless Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallis sylvestris), once regarded as one of the rarest birds in the world, and the Lord Howe Island Phasmid (Dryococelus australis), the world’s largest stick insect that was feared extinct until its rediscovery on Balls Pyramid. - in: https://whc.unesco.org