Kaukura
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...
, 48 km (29.8 mi) long and 15 km (9.3 mi) wide. It is located in the western area of the archipelago, 58 km (36 mi) SW of Rangiroa
Rangiroa
Rangiroa or Te Kokōta , is the largest atoll in the Tuamotus, and one of the largest in the world . It is part of the Palliser group. The nearest atoll is Tikehau, located only 12 km to the West...
. The closest land is Arutua Atoll, only 16 km (9.9 mi) to the East.
Kaukura Atoll is elongated, with a length of 46 km (28.6 mi) and a maximum width of 14 km (8.7 mi). The northern reef rim is narrow, while the southern is broad. There are two groups of 65 islets. The surface of Kaukura's lagoon is 436 km² (168.3 sq mi). It has only one navigable pass cutting through the reef.
The most important island is Motu Panao, located in the Northwest of the Atoll. Kaukura has 353 inhabitants; the main village is Raitahiti.
Geographically Kaukura belongs to the Palliser Islands
Palliser Islands
The Palliser Islands or Pallisers are a subgroup of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. They are located in the northwest of the main group of atolls.-Atolls:The group includes:*Apataki*Arutua*Fakarava*Kaukura*Mataiva*Rangiroa*Makatea...
(Îles Palliser) subgroup of the Tuamotus.
History
The first recorded European to arrive to Kaukura was Dutch Navigator Jakob RoggeveenJakob Roggeveen
Jacob Roggeveen was a Dutch explorer who was sent to find Terra Australis, but he instead came across Easter Island...
on his expedition for the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
to seek Terra Australis
Terra 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...
in 1722.
Formerly fishing was the main occupation of Kaukura's islanders. But presently tourism has replaced the traditional activities as a source of income.
There is a small airport
Kaukura Airport
Kaukura Airport is an airport on Kaukura Atoll in French Polynesia . The airport is 1 km north of Raitahiti....
at Kaukura which was opened in 1994.
Administration
Kaukura belongs to the commune of Arutua. The commune of Arutua consists of Arutua, as well as the atolls of ApatakiApataki
Apataki is a coral atoll in the South Pacific Ocean, territorially part of French Polynesia. It is one of the Palliser Islands, a subgroup of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Apataki is located approximately 370 kilometres northeast of the island of Tahiti. Its wide lagoon has two navigable passes to enter...
and Kaukura.