Bunaken is an island of 8 km2, part of theBunaken National Marine Park. Bunaken is located at the northern tip of the island ofSulawesi,Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality ofManado.Scuba diving attracts many visitors to the island.
Bunaken National Park extends over an area of 890.65 km2 of which only 3% is terrestrial, including Bunaken Island, as well as the islands ofManado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are up to 1,566 m deep inManado Bay, with temperatures ranging between 27 and 29 °C. It has a high diversity of - corals, fish,echinoderms and sponges. Notably, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. It also claims to have seven times more genera ofcoral thanHawaii,[1] and has more than 70% of all the known fish species of the Indo-WesternPacific.[2]
Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park has such a high level of biodiversity. Northeasterly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related tolunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of thepark. A snorkeler or diver in the vicinity ofLekuan orFukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types ofgroupers, damsels,wrasses andgobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.
Bunaken travel guide from Wikivoyage| International | |
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