Sigatoka Sand Dunes

The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is located at the mouth of the Sigatoka River on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. They are located approximately 3 km west of the town of Sigatoka.

Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Sigatoka Sand Dunes
LocationViti Levu, Fiji
Nearest townSigatoka
Coordinates18°9′59.76″S 177°29′20.04″E
Area1.77 km2 (0.68 sq mi)[1]
Established1988 (1988)
Governing bodyNational Trust of Fiji

The dunes are the product of erosion in the coastal hinterland and coastal dune forming processes. The extensive dune system covers an area of 650 hectares and comprises a series of parabolic sand dunes. The dunes range from 20–60 m tall. The dunes have been forming over thousands of years.

Archaeological excavations have uncovered pottery more than 2600 years old, as well as one of the largest burial sites in the Pacific. Evidence of the past is clearly visible throughout the dune system as pottery shards, stone tools, human remains and other archaeological relics continue to be uncovered by natural processes.[2]

The sand dune ecosystem contributes to its national significance as outlined in Fiji's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.[3]

National Park status

The dunes were designated Fiji's first National Park in July 1989 and consequently came under the management of the National Trust of Fiji.[4] The dunes are now an important educational and recreational point for locals and tourists. Apart from being a key tourist destination, the dunes are an important source of archaeological artifacts and information for local and foreign universities and archaeological institutes.

World Heritage Status

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 26 October 1999 in the Cultural category.[5]

References
  1. "Sigatoka Sand dunes | Protected Planet". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  2. "Sigatoka Sand Dunes - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  3. Ganilau, Bernadette Rounds (2007). Fiji Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. pp. 107–112. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  4. "Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park". Tourism Fiji. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  5. "Sigatoka Sand Dunes - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 28 May 2017.


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