Fakarava

Fakarava

NASA picture of Fakarava Atoll
Fakarava
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Coordinates 16°3′5″S 135°39′31″W / 16.05139°S 135.65861°W / -16.05139; -135.65861
Archipelago Tuamotus
Area 1,112 km2 (429 sq mi)  (lagoon)
16 km2 (6 sq mi) (above water)
Length 60 km (37 mi)
Width 21 km (13 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision Tuamotus
Commune Fakarava
Largest settlement Rotoava
Demographics
Population 806[1] (2012)
Pop. density 50 /km2 (130 /sq mi)
Fakarava

View of the inner lagoon of Fakarava from Rotoava
Coordinates: 16°03′05″S 145°39′31″W / 16.0515°S 145.6585°W / -16.0515; -145.6585Coordinates: 16°03′05″S 145°39′31″W / 16.0515°S 145.6585°W / -16.0515; -145.6585
Country France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Area 100.5 km2 (38.8 sq mi)
Population (2012)1 1,581
 • Density 16/km2 (41/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 98716 / 
1 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Fakarava, Havaiki-te-araro, Havai'i or Farea[2] is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It is the second largest of the Tuamotu atolls. The nearest land is Toau Atoll, which lies 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) to the northwest.

The shape of Fakarava Atoll is roughly rectangular and its length is 60 kilometres (37 miles) and its width 21 kilometres (13 miles). Fakarava has a wide and deep lagoon with a surface of 1,112 square kilometres (429 square miles) and two passes. The main pass to enter the lagoon, located in its north-western end, is known as Passe Garuae and it is the largest pass in French Polynesia; the southern pass is called Tumakohua (also known as Tetamanu[3]). It has a land area of 16 square kilometres (6 square miles).

Fakarava has 855 inhabitants; the main village is called Rotoava.

History

The Pōmare Dynasty originated here before ruling the island of Tahiti.

The first recorded European to arrive to Fakarava Atoll was Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen on July 17, 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Wittgenstein".

Fakarava's inhabitants were evangelized by French Picpus priest Honoré Laval in 1849. The church at Rotoava was dedicated in 1850.

There is a territorial (domestic) airfield in Fakarava which was inaugurated in 1995.

Fakarava is being classified by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve.

Administration

This atoll is the capital of the commune of Fakarava, which consists of Fakarava, as well as the atolls of Aratika, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau.

Island Population (2012 census) Area (km²) Area of lagoon (km²) Postcode
Fakarava 806 16 1112 -
Kauehi 257 15 320 -
Aratika 160 8.3 145 -
Niau 226 20 30 -
Raraka 110 7.2 342 -
Toau 18 12 561 -
Taiaro 4 6 12 -
TOTAL 1903 84.5 2522 -
Island Population (2007) Population (2012)
Fakarava 797 806
Kauehi 243 257
Aratika 233 160
Niau 171 226
Raraka 72 110
Toau 55 18
Taiaro 4 4
TOTAL 1575 1581

References

  1. ↑ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  2. ↑ 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. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Based on the French edition of Wikipedia and local knowledge
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