Nukutavake

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Nukutavake
NASA picture of Nukutuvake Island
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	19°16′S 138°46′ECoordinates: 19°16′S 138°46′E
Archipelago	Tuamotu Archipelago
Total islands	4
Area	5.5 km²
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Largest city	Tavananui
Demographics
Population	139 (as of 2002)
Density	35/km²

Map showing the position of Nukutavake in the Tuamotus.

Nukutavake or Nukutuvake is an island in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It lies 1,125 km from Tahiti. The closest land is small Pinaki Atoll, located 15 km to the southeast. Vairaatea Atoll lies 38 km to the west of Nukutavake.

Nukutavake's length is 5 km and its width between 1.3 and 0.45 km. Nukutuvake is not a typical Tuamotu atoll, but a single island. It was formed when its lagoon filled up with silt, in a similar manner as Fua Mulaku in the Maldives, which has a similar size and shape. There are shallow remains of the lagoon filled with marshy vegetation. The higher ground has many coconut palms.

Nukutavake has 139 inhabitants; Tavananui is the largest town. Many local islanders have left the island in recent years, mainly to Tahiti, in search for work. There are a number of abandoned houses on the island. The people who remain live primarily on fish and copra production. There is a cyclone shelter on Nukutavake

[edit] History

The first recorded European who arrived to Nukutavake was Englishman Samuel Wallis in 1767. He named it "Queen Charlotte Island" (Reine Charlotte). Wallis observed that the island was inhabited and well-stocked with coconut trees. But Captain Frederick Beechey, who visited Nukutavake in 1826, found it with no population and without the trees.

There is an airfield on the island. Nukutavake Airport was inaugurated in 1981.

[edit] Administration

Geographically this island is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake.

The commune of Nukutavake includes four other islands apart from Nukutavake itself:

[edit] References

• [1]
• Pictures
• History

[edit] External links

• Atoll list (in French)
• Classification of the French Polynesian atolls by Salvat (1985)

v • d • e Tuamotu Archipelago and Gambier Islands of French Polynesia Tuamotus Gambiers Islands/Atolls:  Ahe • Ahunui • Akiaki • Amanu • Anaa* • Anuanuraro • Anuanurunga • Apataki • Aratika • Arutua* • Faaite • Fakahina • Fakarava* • Fangatau* • Fangataufa • Hao* • Haraiki • Hereheretue • Hikueru* • Hiti • Katiu • Kauehi • Kaukura • Makatea • Makemo* • Manihi* • Manuhangi • Maria Est • Marokau • Marutea (North) • Marutea (South) • Mataiva • Matureivavao • Morane • Moruroa • Motutunga • Napuka* • Nengonengo • Niau • Nihiru • Nukutavake* • Nukutepipi • Paraoa • Pinaki • Puka Puka* • Pukaruha • Rangiroa* • Raraka • Raroia • Ravahere • Reao* • Reitoru • Rekareka • Taenga • Tahanea • Taiaro • Takapoto • Takaroa* • Takume • Tatakoto* • Tauere • Tekokota • Tematangi • Temoe • Tenararo • Tenarunga • Tepoto (North) • Tepoto (South) • Tikehau • Tikei • Toau • Tuanake • Tureia* • Vahanga • Vahitahi • Vairaatea • Vanavana * commune administration center Island groups:  Acteon • Disappointment • Duke of Gloucester • King George • Two Groups • Palliser • Raeffksy Archipelagos of French Polynesia:  Australs • Gambiers • Marquesas • Societies • Tuamotus

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