East Rennell | World Heritage Explorer

World Heritage Identification Number: 854

World Heritage since: 1998

Category: Natural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: Yes

Country: 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands

Continent: Oceania

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

Map

Exploring East Rennell: The Largest Raised Coral Atoll in the World

East Rennell, a significant part of Rennell Island, is a unique and captivating destination located in the Solomon Islands group in the western Pacific Ocean. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, this extraordinary location offers a fascinating blend of geological wonders, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

East Rennell makes up the southern third of Rennell Island, the southernmost island in the Solomon Island group in the western Pacific. Rennell, 86 km long x 15 km wide, is the largest raised coral atoll in the world. The site includes approximately 37,000 ha and a marine area extending 3 nautical miles to sea. A major feature of the island is Lake Tegano, which was the former lagoon on the atoll. The lake, the largest in the insular Pacific (15,500 ha), is brackish and contains many rugged limestone islands and endemic species. Rennell is mostly covered with dense forest, with a canopy averaging 20 m in height. Combined with the strong climatic effects of frequent cyclones, the site is a true natural laboratory for scientific study. The site is under customary land ownership and management.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (ix): East Rennell, as a stepping stone in the migration and evolution of species in the western Pacific, is an important site for the science of island biogeography. Combined with the strong climate effects of frequent cyclones, East Rennell is a true natural laboratory for scientific study.

Encyclopedia Record: East Rennell

East Rennell is the southern portion of Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands which is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rennell is the largest raised coral atoll in the world and the area in East Rennell surrounding Lake Tegano contains many endemic species.

Additional Site Details

Area: 37,000 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes

Coordinates: -11.68333 , 160.33333

Image

Unknown, Public domain

« Previous: Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) Back to Index Next: Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda »

About World Heritage Explorer

World Heritage Explorer is an independent educational project designed to uncover and share the richness of our world’s cultural and natural heritage. Dive into detailed site profiles, immersive imagery, interactive maps, and tools that help you explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the globe. Drawing extensively on open data sources, the project delivers authoritative, well-structured information for learners, educators, travelers, and younger explorers alike.

Learn more

Country Information: Solomon Islands

Official Name: Solomon Islands

Capital: Honiara

Continent: Oceania

Population (2024): 819,198

Population (2023): 800,005

Population (2022): 781,066

Land Area: 27,990 sq km

Currency: Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: East Rennell
Wikipedia: East Rennell

Portions of the page East Rennell are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article East Rennell, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.