Kaukura Atoll

Kaukura Atoll

Geography

Kaukura is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago (Palliser subgroup). It is 47 km long and 13 km wide.

Other name: Kaheko

Location: 15°39′S 146°53′W. The atoll is located 58 km SW of Rangiroa and only 16 km E of Arutua Atoll.

Area: 11 km² (land) and 434 km² (lagoon)

Population: 475 (2012)

Largest settlement: Raitahiti

Map of Kaukura

Kaukura

History

1722 – The Atoll was discovered for Europe by Dutch Navigator Jakob Roggeveen

1994- A small airport was opened.

Fishing used to be the main occupation of the local people. However, nowadays, tourism is much more important and it is the main source of the income.

Kaukura

Kaukura

Kaukura

Kaukura

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaukura

https://mapio.net/a/114566972/?lang=en

Apataki Atoll

Apataki Atoll

Geography

Apataki is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago (Palliser subgroup). It is 34 km long and 24 km wide.

Another name: Hagemeister Island

Location: 15°26′57″S 146°19′45″W. Apataki is located approximately 370 kilometres northeast of the island of Tahiti, 17 km east of Arutua and 24 km northeast of Kaukura.

Area: 21 km² (land) and 706 km² (lagoon)

Population: 350 (2012)

Largest settlement: Niutahi

Map of Apataki

Apataki

History

1722 - Dutch navigator Jakob Roggeveen was first European to sight the atoll.

1774 – The atoll was visited by Jeams Cook.

1977 – Inauguration of the airport.

Apataki

Apataki

Apataki

Apataki

Apataki

Apataki

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apataki

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Apataki

https://mapio.net/a/114566978/?lang=en

Arutua Atoll

Arutua Atoll

Geography

Arutua is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago. It is 31 km long and 24 km wide.

Other names: Ngaru-atua, Cockburn

Location: 15°14′43″S 146°36′43″W. Arutua is located about 40 km from Rangiroa and 16 km from Apataki Atoll.

Area: 15 km² (land) and 484 km² (lagoon)

Population: 680 (2012)

Largest settlement: Rautini

Map of Arutua

Arutua

History

1772 – Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen was the first European to visit the atoll.

1826 – British mariner Frederick Beechey visited the atoll. He called the atoll Cockburn Island.

1984 – A small airport is opened.

Arutua

Arutua

Arutua

Arutua

Arutua

Arutua

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arutua

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Arutua

https://mapio.net/a/114566977/

Rangiroa Atoll

Rangiroa Atoll

Geography

Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, and one of the largest in the world. It consists of about 400 islands and islets. It is about 80 km long and 32 km wide. The lagoon is shallow and has a maximum depth of 35 m. The lagoon has its own horizon.

Another name: Te Kokōta

Location: 15°07′31″S 147°38′43″W. Tahiti is located 355 km from Rangiroa and Tikehau is about 12 km.

Area: 79 km² (land area), 1,446 km² (lagoon)

Highest point: 12 m

Population: 2,567 (2012)
Capital city: Avatoru (pop. 817)

Largest settlement: Tiputa (pop. 971)

Other towns: Ohutu (pop. 546), Taeo'o, Fenuaroa, Otepipi, Tevaro.

Map of Rangiroa

Rangiroa

History

10th century CE – First Polynesian settlers arrived on Rangiroa.

18 April 1616 - Dutch explorers Jacob le Maire and Willem Schouten discovered the atoll for Europe.

30 May 1722 - Dutch sailor Jakob Roggeveen visited the atoll.

1765 – John Byron (grandfather of Lord Byron) visited the atoll.

7 September 1839 - Charles Wilkes expedition visited the atoll.

1965 – Inauguration of the airport.

Rangiroa

Rangiroa

Rangiroa

Rangiroa

Rangiroa

Avatoru

Rangiroa

Rangiroa

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangiroa

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rangiroa

Pacific Islands Volume II Eastern Pacific Naval Intelligence Division 1943

Makatea Island

Makatea Island

Geography

Makatea is a raised coral atoll and it is part of Palliser group in the Tuamotu Archipelago. It is 7.5 km long and 7 km wide. Makatea is everywhere bordered by cliffs, with short stretches of white sandy beach one the west and on the east sides.

Other names: Mangaia-te-vai-tamae, Aurora, Papa Tea ("white rock").

Location: 15°51′S 148°15′W; 79 km southwest from Rangiroa.

Area: 24 km²

Highest point: 110 m (Puutiare)

Population: 68 (2012)

Largest settlement: Moumu

Map of Makatea

Section of Makatea

Makatea

History

1606 – Makatea was probably sighted by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro Fernandes de Queirós. The island was named Sagitario.

1722 – A Dutch mariner Jakob Roggeveen visited the island. He named it Aurora.

1917 – 1964 - Phosphate mining. During that period the island was more populated than is today (for example in 1936 there were 992 people). There are two abandoned towns on the island that were inhabited during the phosphate period: Vaitepaua and Temao.

Makatea

Makatea

Makatea - Temao

Makatea

Makatea

Makatea

Makatea

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makatea

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Makatea_(Tuamotu)

https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Makatea-l-exploitation-du-phosphate-pourrait-durer-16-ans_a148532.html

https://www.tahitiheritage.pf/rivage-temao-makatea/

Pacific Islands Volume II Eastern Pacific Naval Intelligence Division 1943

Tikehau Atoll

Tikehau Atoll

Geography

Tikehau atoll is part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. The atoll is made up of two major islands and numerous islets. The islands and islets are covered with coconut palms.

Other names: Porutu-kai, Tikahau, Krusenstern.

Location: 15°4′12″S 148°7′48″W. Tahiti is located 340 km from the atoll, Rangiroa 12 km and Mataiva 22 km.

Area: 20 km² (land) and 461 km² (lagoon); 27 km long and 19 km wide.

Highest point: 8 m.

Population: 529 (2012)
Largest settlement: Tuherahera

Map of Tikehau

Tikehau

History

The atoll had been inhibited by Polynesians before it was discovered by Europeans.

25 April 1816 - Russian mariner Otto von Kotzebue was the first European to see the atoll.

9 September 1839 - Wilkes Expedition passed by this atoll.

Tikehau - 1816

Tikehau

Tikehau

Tikehau

Tikehau

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikehau

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tikehau

Pacific Islands Volume II Eastern Pacific Naval Intelligence Division 1943

Mataiva Atoll

Mataiva Atoll

Geography

Mataiva atoll is the westernmost of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Aside from coral islands surrounding the lagoon, there are also several small islets located within the lagoon. There are rich phosphate deposits on the atoll. Mataiva is part of the Palliser group (subgroup of Tuamotu).

Other names: Tepoetiriura, Lazarev atoll.

Location: 14°53′S 148°43′W  Tikehau atoll is located 35 km to the east, Rangiroa atoll is located 79 km to the east, Tahiti is 311 km to the south.

Area: 25 km² (land) and 16 km² (lagoon) ;10 km long and 5 km wide.
Highest point: 14 m.

Population: 280 (2012)

Largest settlement: Pahua

Map of Mataiva

Mataiva

History

The atoll had been inhibited by Polynesians before it was discovered by Europeans. There is an ancient ceremonial platform (Marae Papiro) on the atoll. It was associated with a turtle cult.

30 July 1820 - Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen from Russia is the first European to visit Mataiva on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll Lazarev.

1999 - The inauguration of the airport.

Mataiva

Mataiva

Mataiva

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mataiva

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mataiva