Amanu
Encyclopedia
Amanu, Timanu, or Karere, is an atoll
in the Tuamotu archipelago. Amanu lies at right angles to neighbouring Hao Atoll; this orientation is quite rare for the Tuamotu atolls.
It is situated 900 km east of Tahiti
and 15 km north of Hao
. The atoll is 29 km long (northeast to southwest) and 10 km wide, but only 9.6 km² of land are above water, the rest forming the central lagoon
. The surface of Amanu's wide lagoon is 240 km². There are two navigable passes to enter it.
Amanu has 166 inhabitants. The main village is Ikitake.
. However, several 16th century Spanish cannons were found on Amanu in 1929, indicating that an earlier Spanish expedition had visited Tuamotu. Some historians believe the cannons belonged to the caravel San Lesmes, which was split off from the Loaísa expedition
which sailed the Pacific Ocean in 1526.
Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
visited Amanu in 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Moller".
which includes the atolls of Rekareka
(uninhabited) and Tauere
.
The Amanu commune is associated with the Hao
commune.
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 Tuamotu archipelago. Amanu lies at right angles to neighbouring Hao Atoll; this orientation is quite rare for the Tuamotu atolls.
It is situated 900 km east of Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
and 15 km north of Hao
Hao (French Polynesia)
Hao, or Haorangi, is a large coral atoll in the central part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Because of its shape, French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville named it Harp Island....
. The atoll is 29 km long (northeast to southwest) and 10 km wide, but only 9.6 km² of land are above water, the rest forming the central 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,...
. The surface of Amanu's wide lagoon is 240 km². There are two navigable passes to enter it.
Amanu has 166 inhabitants. The main village is Ikitake.
History
The first recorded European who arrived to Amanu Atoll was Spanish navigator Pedro Fernández de Quirós on 12 February 1606, while sailing across the Pacific Ocean in search of Terra AustralisTerra Australis
Terra Australis, Terra Australis Ignota or Terra Australis Incognita was a hypothesized continent appearing on European maps from the 15th to the 18th century...
. However, several 16th century Spanish cannons were found on Amanu in 1929, indicating that an earlier Spanish expedition had visited Tuamotu. Some historians believe the cannons belonged to the caravel San Lesmes, which was split off from the Loaísa expedition
García Jofre de Loaísa
García Jofre de Loaísa was a 16th century Spanish explorer ordered by king Charles I of Spain to command an expedition to Asia, known as the Loaísa expedition, which in 1525 was sent by the western route to colonize the Spice Islands in the East Indies, thus crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans...
which sailed the Pacific Ocean in 1526.
Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen was an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, cartographer and explorer, who ultimately rose to the rank of Admiral...
visited Amanu in 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Moller".
Administration
Administratively Amanu forms a commune in French PolynesiaFrench 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...
which includes the atolls of Rekareka
Rekareka
Rekareka, Tehuata or Tu-henua, is an atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located in the Centre East of the group, 83 km southeast from Raroia .and lies 70 km NW of Tauere, its nearest neighbor...
(uninhabited) and Tauere
Tauere
Tauere Atoll or Taouere, also known as Te Putua, is a small atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 85 km northwest of Hao Atoll's westernmost point....
.
The Amanu commune is associated with the Hao
Hao (French Polynesia)
Hao, or Haorangi, is a large coral atoll in the central part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Because of its shape, French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville named it Harp Island....
commune.