Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Indian Ocean.
Though volcanically inactive, the island played a prominant
role in our understanding of the growth of fringing reefs, barrier reefs
and atolls.
Predominantly due to the hypotheses of Charles Darwin.
Darwin had set out from England in the Beagle during December
of 1831.
He was strongly influenced by, the then, new science of Geology.
Mostly incalcated by the writings of Charles Lyell in the
latter's Principles of Geology.
After four and a half years, the ship, with Darwin, reached
the Cocos Islands on April Fool's day 1836.
The data obtained there and from previous landings on Pacific
islands gave rise to his publication
Theory of subsidence of atolls and coral reefs.
This publication and a cross-section of the island was commemorated
in a souvenir sheet issued by
Cocos Islands on December 28th, 1981.
A hundred and fifty years and one day after the Beagle set
sail from Plymouth,
and a day during which Darwin was subjected to mal de mer.
Many thanks to Ed Benson for souvenir sheet.
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