Kaioho Gateway

The islands of the Kolokolou ocean are some of the newest and most volcanically active in the world. Towards the northern reach, the ocean is dotted with submarine plateaus where the water is between one and two hundred metres deep. These plateaus were formed from unerwater volcanoes, host an abundance of wildlife and coral reefs, and are heavily populated with esaanla. The islands towards the southern edge of the plateau, however, are surrounded by deep ocean, in some cases dropping straight down to an abyssal plain.
Nowhere is this more clear than the Kaioho Gateway, a natural wonder that marks the border between Aeho'ai and the Kolokolou ocean, and is located off of the coast of the southeastern-most of Mauhia's Kaioho Islands. Here, the edge of the plateau is visible to the naked eye, as ocean currents pull the continent's famous white sand over the edge and let it fall towards the sea floor, some six kilometers below.

by Xavier Coiffic

Fauna & Flora

The Kaioho Islands are a protected nesting site of the Tapihana's sea eagle, and home to at least a dozen more bird species. A barrier reef connects to reefs in the Kuwekuli sea, forming a protected corridor along Mauhia's west coast that provides shelter to over 1,000 species of fish, 3,000 species of mollusk and 200 bird species.
The waters around the island form the southern extent of an area that takes in the Kuwekuli sea and the Kolokolou ocean, and is occupied by the largest community of esaanla outside of Ophoné.

Tourism

The Kaioho Iislands are 200 km off of the southern tip of Mauhia, and the Kaioho Gateway is only accessible outside of the hurricane season, via a two-day hike around the cone of am active volcano.
Despite popular speculation about the being location of the lost city of 'Kaaḍhu, the Gateway's inaccessability has prevented the fragile reefs and unique island ecosystem from being overrun by tourists and treasure-hunters.

Type

Natural Wonder

Location under

Aeho'ai

Owning Organization

Mauhia