Farquhar Atoll, Atoll in Seychelles

Farquhar Atoll is the most southerly atoll of Seychelles, lying 770 km southwest of Mahé. Its land covers 8.357 km² within a 170.5 km² lagoon up to nine metres deep. The main islands, North Farquhar and South Farquhar, form a long curve along the eastern side, with the Manaha islands between them, Goëlettes farther south, and Sable and the Trois Islands to the west. Sand dunes on the atoll rise over 23 metres.

The atoll was part of the British Indian Ocean Territory from 1965 until 1976, when it returned to Seychelles following the nation's independence. This transfer marked a key moment in shaping the modern identity of Seychelles as an independent state.

The atoll's name honours Robert Townsend Farquhar, who gave it his name in 1824; earlier Portuguese charts called it after João da Nova. Today the Island Conservation Society, which opened a centre on North Island in 2014, works with the resident community whose livelihood includes copra, coconut oil and salted fish.

The atoll has an airfield on the northern side that connects it to the main island of Mahé for regular access. Basic lodging is available on-site, especially during certain seasons, so planning your visit ahead is helpful.

The atoll's sand dunes rise above 23 metres, among the highest in the Seychelles. Goëlettes hosts a seasonal colony of over 300,000 pairs of sooty terns, and in 2006 Sable Island held 15 nesting pairs of black-naped tern, the largest group recorded on any single island in the region.