Akiaki
Encyclopedia
Akiaki is a low coral
atoll
in the eastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia
. Akiaki's nearest neighbor is Vahitahi
, which is located 41 km to the southeast.
Akiaki is a small atoll rising barely above sea level
. The total land surface is only 1.3 km². Its reef
is occupied by a single flat island covered with coconut trees and other vegetation
. There is no lagoon
and it has only a difficult landing located on its northwestern side.
Akiaki is uninhabited, but is visited occasionally for its coconut plantations.
in 1768. He called this atoll Ile des Lanciers. James Cook
reached Akiaki the following year, during his first voyage, and named it Thrum Island.
which is part of the Tuamotu Seamount Trail on the Pacific Plate
. Akiaki's seamount is 3420 m high.
, which includes Nukutavake, as well as the atolls of Vahitahi
, Vairaatea
, Pinaki and Akiaki.
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
in the eastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
. Akiaki's nearest neighbor is Vahitahi
Vahitahi
Vahitahi, or Vaitake, is an atoll in the eastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Vahitahi's nearest neighbor is Akiaki, which is located 41 km to the northwest....
, which is located 41 km to the southeast.
Akiaki is a small atoll rising barely above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The total land surface is only 1.3 km². Its reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
is occupied by a single flat island covered with coconut trees and other vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
. There is no lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
and it has only a difficult landing located on its northwestern side.
Akiaki is uninhabited, but is visited occasionally for its coconut plantations.
History
The first recorded European that arrived to Akiaki Atoll was Louis Antoine de BougainvilleLouis Antoine de Bougainville
Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville was a French admiral and explorer. A contemporary of James Cook, he took part in the French and Indian War and the unsuccessful French attempt to defend Canada from Britain...
in 1768. He called this atoll Ile des Lanciers. James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
reached Akiaki the following year, during his first voyage, and named it Thrum Island.
Geology
Akiaki lies on top of a small seamountSeamount
A seamount is a mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach to the water's surface , and thus is not an island. These are typically formed from extinct volcanoes, that rise abruptly and are usually found rising from a seafloor of depth. They are defined by oceanographers as...
which is part of the Tuamotu Seamount Trail on the Pacific Plate
Pacific Plate
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At 103 million square kilometres, it is the largest tectonic plate....
. Akiaki's seamount is 3420 m high.
Administration
Administratively Vahitahi Atoll belongs to the commune of NukutavakeNukutavake
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....
, which includes Nukutavake, as well as the atolls of Vahitahi
Vahitahi
Vahitahi, or Vaitake, is an atoll in the eastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Vahitahi's nearest neighbor is Akiaki, which is located 41 km to the northwest....
, Vairaatea
Vairaatea
Vairaatea is a small atoll of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Vairaatea Atoll is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake. Nukutavake, the closest land, lies 38 km to the east.Vairaatea Atoll measures...
, Pinaki and Akiaki.