Napuka, or Pukaroa, is a small coral atoll in the Disappointment Islands, in the northeastern part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located only 15 km to the southeast of Tepoto Nord, its nearest neighbor, forming a small group. These two atolls are quite isolated, the nearest land being Fangatau Atoll 170 km to the south.
 NASA picture of Napuka Atoll | |
  Napuka | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 14°10′12″S 141°13′52″W / 14.17000°S 141.23111°W |
| Archipelago | Tuamotus |
| Area | 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi) (lagoon) 8 km2 (3 sq mi) (above water) |
| Length | 10.5 km (6.52 mi) |
| Width | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
| Administration | |
France | |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Administrative subdivision | Îles Tuamotu-Gambier |
| Commune | Napuka |
| Largest settlement | Tepukamaruia |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 255[1] (2022) |
Napuka | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
Location of Napuka  | |
| Coordinates: 14°10′12″S 141°13′52″W / 14.17011°S 141.23106°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Subdivision | Îles Tuamotu-Gambier |
Area 1 | 1 km2 (0.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | 307 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−10:00 |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98730 / |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Napuka Atoll is 10.5 km long and about 4 km wide. Its reef is quite broad, completely enclosing the lagoon. The total dry land area of the thirty islands on Napuka's reef is 8 km2. The surface of the lagoon is 18 km2.
Napuka has 255 inhabitants according to the 2022 census.[1] The main village is Tepukamaruia (Te Puka Maru Ia).
History
editThe first recorded European to reach Napuka Atoll was the British explorer John Byron, in 1765. He named Napuka and Tepoto "Disappointment Islands" because he found the natives to be of a hostile disposition toward him.
Napuka was visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedition, on 23 Aug. 1839.[2] This atoll was probably the one that Charles Wilkes called "Wytoohee" or "Wutoohee".
The airport on Napuka opened in 1977.
Administration
editThe commune of Napuka consists of the atolls of Napuka and Tepoto Nord.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ Stanton, William (1975). The Great United States Exploring Expedition. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 119. ISBN 0520025571.
- ^ Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance
- oceandots.com at the Wayback Machine (archived December 23, 2010)
- Atoll names
- Origin of the name (in German)
- United States Exploring Expedition, - Charles Wilkes
- Napuka airport
External links
edit
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