Fangatau, or Nakai-erua,[2] is a small atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Fakahina Atoll, located 72 km to the ESE. This small atoll has an elongated shape. Its length is 8 kilometres (5.0 miles), maximum width 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles). It has a total area of 22.2 square kilometres (8.6 square miles),[3] land area 5.9 km2. Its reef encloses its lagoon completely. Anchorage is difficult. Fangatau Atoll has 150 inhabitants (2022 census).[1] Teana is the main village.
 NASA picture of Fangatau Atoll | |
  Fangatau | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 15°49′12″S 140°53′14″W / 15.82000°S 140.88722°W |
| Archipelago | Tuamotus |
| Area | 22.2 km2 (8.6 sq mi) (lagoon) 9.4 km2 (4 sq mi) (above water) |
| Length | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Width | 3.5 km (2.17 mi) |
| Administration | |
France | |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Administrative subdivision | Îles Tuamotu-Gambier |
| Commune | Fangatau |
| Largest settlement | Teana |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 150[1] (2022) |
| Pop. density | 16/km2 (41/sq mi) |
Fangatau | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
Location of Fangatau  | |
| Coordinates: 15°49′12″S 140°53′14″W / 15.8199°S 140.8871°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Subdivision | Îles Tuamotu-Gambier |
Area 1 | 14.3 km2 (5.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | 323 |
| • Density | 23/km2 (59/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−10:00 |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98717 / |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
History
editThe first recorded European to arrive at Fangatau was Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen on the 10 July 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Arakcheev". Fangatau was the home of Kamake an Iturangi, regarded by anthropologist Kenneth Emory as "the greatest Tuamotuan sage" he ever met.[4]
Administration
editThe commune of Fangatau consists of Fangatau Atoll, as well as the atoll and associated commune of Fakahina.[5] The seat of the commune is the village Teana.[5]
| Atoll | Main village |
Population 2022[1] |
Land area (km2)[6] |
Lagoon (km2) |
Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fangatau | Teana | 150 | 5.9 | 11 | 15°49′S 140°52′W / 15.817°S 140.867°W |
| Fakahina | Tarione | 173 | 8.3 | 20 | 15°59′S 140°08′W / 15.983°S 140.133°W |
| Commune of Fangatau | Teana | 323 | 14.3 | 31 |
| Atoll | Main village |
Population 2007 |
Population 2012 |
Population 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fangatau | Teana | 121 | 145 | 135 |
| Fakahina | Tarione | 131 | 155 | 161 |
| Commune of Fangatau | Teana | 252 | 300 | 296 |
Transport
editThe atoll is served by the Fangatau Airport (IATA: FGU, ICAO: NTGB).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Les résultats du recensement de la population 2022 de Polynésie française" [Results of the 2022 population census of French Polynesia] (PDF) (in French). Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. January 2023.
- ^ Young, J.L. (1899). "Names of the Paumotu Islands, with the old names so far as they are known". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 8 (4): 264–268. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ ICES Journal of Marine Science
- ^ Emory, Kenneth P. (1940). "Tuamotuan concepts of creation". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 49 (193): 117. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ a b Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance
- ^ "R1- Population sans doubles comptes, des subdivisions, communes et communes associées de Polynésie française, de 1971 à 1996". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Archived from the original on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
External links
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