Beach bar, Hat Ao Mae, Ko Tao (Turtle Island), southern Thailand.

Beach bar, Hat Ao Mae, Ko Tao (Turtle Island), southern Thailand.

Ko Tao or Turtle Island, located in the midst of the Gulf of Thailand, was named by early settlers for the islands hump-backed, turtle-like shape, though it is also a significant breeding ground for both Hawksbill and Green Turtles. The economy of the island, which was once uninhabited except for transient fishermen, now revolves almost exclusively around tourism and scuba diving. The rapid development of tourism in recent years has had a negative impact on turtle breeding, but since 2004 the Royal Thai Navy in conjunction with a cooperative of local dive centers has sponsored the reintroduction of hundreds of juvenile turtles to Ko Taos ecosystem. The island is about 21 sq km (8 sq miles) in area, and the main settlement, on the western side of the island, is Ban Mae Hat. Most of the island is rugged, with dense forest inland, quiet coves along the relatively difficult-to-reach east coast, and a fine sweep of sandy beach along the western shore.

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