Aerial view of Nauru in 2002
Nauru Island is located in the Pacific Ocean on the Pacific Plate , which crosses the mid-ocean ridge 132 million years old. [1] From the middle of the Eocene (35 million years ago) through the Oligocene , a mountain with a height of 4300 m, consisting of basalt , was formed due to underwater vulcanization [1] .
The volcano was washed out by water to sea level, and a 500-meter coral atoll was formed on its top [2] . Coral rose 30 m above sea level, and now dolomite limestones form karst up to 20 m high [2] . At a depth of 55 m below sea level, karst funnels and caves formed in limestone deposits.
Nauru moves at a speed of 104 mm per year in a northwest direction [1] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 Maharaj, Russell J. Evaluation of Impacts of Harbor Engineering Anibare Bay, Republic of Nauru // South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission. - 2003.
- ↑ 1 2 First National Report To the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Republic of Nauru // Department of Economic Development and Environment. Archived on June 5, 2007.