Kauehi
Encyclopedia
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 group in 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...
.
The nearest land is Raraka
Raraka
Raraka, or Te Marie, is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It lies 17 km to the southeast of Kauehi Atoll....
Atoll, located 17 km to the Southeast.
Kauehi Atoll is roughly kidney-shaped and has a wide lagoon; length 23 km, width 17 km.
Kauehi's lagoon has one navigable pass.
Kauehi Atoll has 671 inhabitants. The main village is called Tearavero.
History
Even though Kauehi Atoll was probably well-known to the pearl traders, the first recorded European to visit it was the Beagles captain Robert FitzRoyRobert FitzRoy
Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy RN achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin's famous voyage, and as a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate weather forecasting a reality...
in 1835.
Kauehi was later visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842. Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...
called the atoll "Vincennes" after his ship.
There is a territorial (domestic) airfield in Kauehi which was inaugurated in 2001.
Administration
Kauehi Atoll belongs to the commune of FakaravaFakarava
Fakarava, Havaiki-te-araro, Havai'i or Farea 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 km to the northwest....
, which consists of Fakarava, as well as the atolls of Aratika
Aratika
Aratika is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Kauehi Atoll, located 35 km to the south east.Aratika has an unusual butterfly shape. Its length is 20.8 km and its maximum width 10.7 km. The lagoon is wide and deep, and can be entered by two...
, Kauehi, Niau
Niau
Niau is a small atoll in French Polynesia, in the commune of Fakarava . This atoll has broad fringing reef and an area of 20 km²....
, Raraka
Raraka
Raraka, or Te Marie, is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It lies 17 km to the southeast of Kauehi Atoll....
, Taiaro
Taiaro
Taiaro, or Maro-taua, is a small atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It is one of the smallest of the Tuamotu atolls. Taiaro lies 42 km to the northeast of Raraka Atoll....
and Toau
Toau
Toau, Pakuria, or Taha-a-titi is a coral atoll in French Polynesia, one of the Palliser Islands . Toau has a wide lagoon; length 35 km, width 18 km. The nearest land is Fakarava Atoll, located 14 km to the Southeast....
.
External links
Kauehi fue descubierto por Fitz-Roy en 1835, aunque probablemente ya era conocido por los comerciantes de perlas. Era conocido con el nombre de Vincennes.