Bu Tinah Shoals : UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Bu Tinah is a tiny archipelago amid extensive coral formations and seagrass beds some 25 km south of Zirku and 35 north of Marawah in the United Arabian Emirates. It is as undisturbed by man as anywhere in the waters of Abu Dhabi and is protected as a private nature reserve. Fishing and collection of turtle eggs is prohibited, the ban being enforced by patrols. Bu Tinah is actually a cluster of islands and shoals, joined or almost so at low water, with nowhere greater than two or three metres above sea level. The main island has a sheltered lagoon opening to the south with the low energy environment permitting stands of mature mangrove to flourish.
In the Landscapes and Ice Formations category of the New7Wonders of Nature competition, Liwa Oasis and the Empty Quarter currently sits in 12th place behind areas of beauty such as the Al Hasa Oasis in Saudi Arabia, the Vatnajokull Glacier in Iceland and current front-runner Oesling, a forested area covering the northern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Bu Tinah Shoals currently sits in 26th place in the Islands category, which also features such sites as the Galapagos Islands, Bora Bora Island and current leader Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands off the western Pacific Ocean. The other categories are: Mountains and Volcanoes; Caves Rock Formations and Valleys; Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves; Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls and Seascapes.
Tia Viering, head of Communications for New7Wonders said: "We can see the enormous public support and interest for the Official Host 2011 rights to be won by a location in the [Gulf Cooperation Council] GCC. It is an extraordinary and unique opportunity to project a positive image on the world scale. Yet, until now only one location from the GCC is officially involved at this point in the bidding process. It would be a pity if the others missed out on this chance." The UAE has two nominations in the second phase of the global initiative - Liwa Oasis and the Empty Quarter and Bu Tinah Shoals. There are currently 18 locations from Europe, Asia and the Americas participating in the bidding process for the rights to become the official hosts.
In the Landscapes and Ice Formations category of the New7Wonders of Nature competition, Liwa Oasis and the Empty Quarter currently sits in 12th place behind areas of beauty such as the Al Hasa Oasis in Saudi Arabia, the Vatnajokull Glacier in Iceland and current front-runner Oesling, a forested area covering the northern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Bu Tinah Shoals currently sits in 26th place in the Islands category, which also features such sites as the Galapagos Islands, Bora Bora Island and current leader Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands off the western Pacific Ocean. The other categories are: Mountains and Volcanoes; Caves Rock Formations and Valleys; Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves; Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls and Seascapes.
Tia Viering, head of Communications for New7Wonders said: "We can see the enormous public support and interest for the Official Host 2011 rights to be won by a location in the [Gulf Cooperation Council] GCC. It is an extraordinary and unique opportunity to project a positive image on the world scale. Yet, until now only one location from the GCC is officially involved at this point in the bidding process. It would be a pity if the others missed out on this chance." The UAE has two nominations in the second phase of the global initiative - Liwa Oasis and the Empty Quarter and Bu Tinah Shoals. There are currently 18 locations from Europe, Asia and the Americas participating in the bidding process for the rights to become the official hosts.
