Manihi
Encyclopedia
Manihi, or Paeua, is a coral
atoll
in the Tuamotu Archipelago
. It is one of the northernmost of the Tuamotus, located in the King George
subgroup. The closest land to Manihi is Ahe
Atoll, located 14 km to the west. The total population is 816 inhabitants.
measures about 10 km (6 mi.) across and 20 km (12 mi.) long, and is ringed by innumerable islets. The lagoon is well-known among snorkelers
for its beautiful and diverse marine fauna, including, among other species, the manta ray
. There is only one pass to enter the lagoon, located close to the atoll's southern end. It is known as Passe de Tairapa. 14.4585°N 146.0610°W
The chief village is Paeua. Another important village, Turipaoa, is located in the south-western part of the atoll, and is home to about 400 inhabitants. Several of the islands are inhabited, by populations ranging from single individuals to as many as 400.
and Willem Schouten
on their 1615-1616 Pacific journey. They called this atoll "Waterland Island".
British explorer John Byron
, who reached Manihi in June 1765, called the atoll "Prince of Wales Island".
Manihi Airport was inaugurated in 1994.
On Manihi are located two ancient Polynesian ceremonial platforms (marae
in Tuamotuan
), constructed of blocks of coral.
farms, and is the original home of the highly prized Polynesia
n black pearl
s.
There is now a five star resort on Manihi, called the Pearl Beach Manihi resort, which has overwater bungalows in the lagoon.
There is one airfield on the atoll: Manihi Airport
. It is located close to Turipaoa and is served by the local airline Air Tahiti
.
. The current mayor of the commune is Jeannot Mataoa (mandate: 2008-2014).
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 Tuamotu Archipelago
Tuamotus
The Tuamotus or the Tuamotu Archipelago are a chain of islands and atolls in French Polynesia. They form the largest chain of atolls in the world, spanning an area of the Pacific Ocean roughly the size of Western Europe...
. It is one of the northernmost of the Tuamotus, located in the King George
King George Islands
The King George Islands is a subgroup of the Tuamotus Archipelago group in French Polynesia.The King George Islands include four atolls and one island:* Ahe* Manihi* Takapoto* Takaroa* Tikei Island...
subgroup. The closest land to Manihi is Ahe
Ahe
Ahe, Ahemaru or Omaru, is an almost entirely-enclosed coral atoll, located in the northern Tuamotu Archipelago, just 14 km to the west of Manihi, in French Polynesia.Ahe Atoll's ring shape is broken by only a single small passage into the lagoon....
Atoll, located 14 km to the west. The total population is 816 inhabitants.
Geography
Manihi is a relatively large elongated atoll, Its oval-shaped lagoonLagoon
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,...
measures about 10 km (6 mi.) across and 20 km (12 mi.) long, and is ringed by innumerable islets. The lagoon is well-known among snorkelers
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
for its beautiful and diverse marine fauna, including, among other species, the manta ray
Manta ray
The manta ray is the largest species of the rays. The largest known specimen was more than across, with a weight of about . It ranges throughout waters of the world, typically around coral reefs...
. There is only one pass to enter the lagoon, located close to the atoll's southern end. It is known as Passe de Tairapa. 14.4585°N 146.0610°W
The chief village is Paeua. Another important village, Turipaoa, is located in the south-western part of the atoll, and is home to about 400 inhabitants. Several of the islands are inhabited, by populations ranging from single individuals to as many as 400.
History
The first recorded Europeans to arrive to Manihi were Dutch explorers Jacob le MaireJacob Le Maire
Jacob Le Maire was a Dutch mariner who circumnavigated the earth in 1615-16. The strait between Tierra del Fuego and Isla de los Estados was named the Le Maire Strait in his honor, though not without controversy...
and Willem Schouten
Willem Schouten
Willem Cornelisz Schouten was a Dutch navigator for the Dutch East India Company. He was the first to sail the Cape Horn route to the Pacific Ocean.- Biography :Willem Cornelisz Schouten was born in c...
on their 1615-1616 Pacific journey. They called this atoll "Waterland Island".
British explorer John Byron
John Byron
Vice Admiral The Hon. John Byron, RN was a Royal Navy officer. He was known as Foul-weather Jack because of his frequent bad luck with weather.-Early career:...
, who reached Manihi in June 1765, called the atoll "Prince of Wales Island".
Manihi Airport was inaugurated in 1994.
On Manihi are located two ancient Polynesian ceremonial platforms (marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
in Tuamotuan
Tuamotuan language
The Tuamotuan language or Paumotuan is a Tahitic language spoken by about 6700 people in the Tuamotu Islands with an additional 2000 speakers in Tahiti...
), constructed of blocks of coral.
Economy
Manihi Atoll is today home to a great number of pearlPearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
farms, and is the original home of the highly prized Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n black pearl
Black Pearl
The Black Pearl, originally Wicked Wench, is a fictional ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. In the screenplay, the Black Pearl is easily recognized by her distinctive black hull and sails. The ship was originally named Wicked Wench before she was ordered burned and sunk by Lord Beckett...
s.
There is now a five star resort on Manihi, called the Pearl Beach Manihi resort, which has overwater bungalows in the lagoon.
There is one airfield on the atoll: Manihi Airport
Manihi Airport
Manihi Airport is an airport serving Manihi, an atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 3 km northwest of the village of Paeva....
. It is located close to Turipaoa and is served by the local airline Air Tahiti
Air Tahiti
Société Air Tahiti Société Anonyme is a regional airline with its head office on the property of Faa'a International Airport, in Faaa, Tahiti, French Polynesia, near Papeete. Air Tahiti's network covers 46 islands within French Polynesia, plus the island of Rarotonga...
.
Administration
The atoll is the chef-lieu of the commune of Manihi which consists of the atolls of Manihi and AheAhe
Ahe, Ahemaru or Omaru, is an almost entirely-enclosed coral atoll, located in the northern Tuamotu Archipelago, just 14 km to the west of Manihi, in French Polynesia.Ahe Atoll's ring shape is broken by only a single small passage into the lagoon....
. The current mayor of the commune is Jeannot Mataoa (mandate: 2008-2014).