Low islands

The Moruroa atoll, composed of low islands on the reef encircling a central lagoon

A low island geographically is an island of coral origin. The term applies whether the island was formed as a result of sedimentation upon a coral reef or the uplifting of those kind of islands the term is used to distinguish those kind of islands from high islands, whose origins are volcanic.

References

  1. ↑ Raymond E. Murphy: "'High' and 'Low' Islands in the Eastern Carolines", Geographical Review, Vol. 39, No. 3, Jul., 1949. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
Map of Niue, a low island and former ring-shaped island formed of coral, where reef and lagoon have risen above sea level due to uplifting