Palm Islands Nature Reserve | |
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Location | Mina, Lebanon, Tripoli District, North Governorate, Lebanon |
Coordinates | 34°29′33.85″N 35°46′28.41″E / 34.4927361°N 35.7745583°E |
Area | 4.2 km2 (1.6 sq mi) |
Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Established | 1992 |
Governing body | Lebanese Ministry of the Environment |
The Palm Islands Nature Reserve consists of three flat, rocky islands of eroded limestone and the surrounding sea area, located 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) offshore and northwest of the city of El Mina, Lebanon, to the west of Tripoli, Lebanon.
The overall area of the reserve is 4.2 square kilometres (1.6 sq mi), it has been designated as a Mediterranean Specially Protected Area under the 1995 Barcelona Convention. The islands were also identified as a Ramsar Wetland of Special International Importance in 1980, and have been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.[1][2][3] The islands are a haven for endangered green turtles (Chelona mydas), rare monk seals and a resting and nesting grounds for migratory birds.[4]