Fakarava, "The Island of Dreams," is the second largest atoll after Rangiroa. It is an untouched world with an ecosystem that is home to rare birds, plants, crustaceans and exceptional dive sites. It was once the ancient capital of the region and the site of the first Catholic mission in the atolls built of coral in the 1870's. The environment is so pure that the atoll is being considered for classification as a UNESCO nature reserve for the preservation of rare species.