Napuka
Encyclopedia
Napuka, or Pukaroa, is a small coral
atoll
in the Disappointment Islands
, in the north-eastern part of the Tuamotu Archipelago
in French Polynesia
. It is located only 15 km to the southeast of Tepoto Nord, its nearest neighbor, forming a small group. These two atolls are quite isolated, the nearest land being Fangatau
Atoll 170 km to the south.
Napuka Atoll is 10.5 km long and about 4 km wide. Its reef is quite broad, completely enclosing the lagoon. The total dry land area of the 30 islands on Napuka's reef is 8 km². The surface of the lagoon is 18 km².
Napuka has 257 inhabitants according to the 2002 census
. The main village is Tepukamaruia (Te Puka Maru Ia).
in 1765. He named Napuka and Tepoto "Disappointment Islands" because the natives were of a hostile disposition.
Napuka was visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842. This atoll was most probably the one that Charles Wilkes
called "Wytoohee" or "Wutoohee".
The airport in Napuka was inaugurated in 1977.
of Napuka, which consists of the atolls of Napuka and Tepoto Nord
.
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 Disappointment Islands
Disappointment Islands
The Disappointment Islands are a subgroup of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. They are located towards the northeast, away from the main Tuamotu group....
, in the north-eastern part of 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...
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...
. It is located only 15 km to the southeast of Tepoto Nord, its nearest neighbor, forming a small group. These two atolls are quite isolated, the nearest land being Fangatau
Fangatau
Fangatau, or Nakai-erua, is a small atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia.The nearest land is Fakahina Atoll, located 72 km to the ESE....
Atoll 170 km to the south.
Napuka Atoll is 10.5 km long and about 4 km wide. Its reef is quite broad, completely enclosing the lagoon. The total dry land area of the 30 islands on Napuka's reef is 8 km². The surface of the lagoon is 18 km².
Napuka has 257 inhabitants according to the 2002 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
. The main village is Tepukamaruia (Te Puka Maru Ia).
History
The first recorded European to reach Napuka Atoll was British explorer John ByronJohn 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:...
in 1765. He named Napuka and Tepoto "Disappointment Islands" because the natives were of a hostile disposition.
Napuka was visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842. This atoll was most probably the one that 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 "Wytoohee" or "Wutoohee".
The airport in Napuka was inaugurated in 1977.
Administration
Napuka Atoll is the head of the communeCommunes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Napuka, which consists of the atolls of Napuka and Tepoto Nord
Tepoto (North)
Tepoto, also known as Te Poto, Toho, or Pukapoto, is a coral island. It is the northwesternmost of the Disappointment Islands, in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Despite being often referred to as "atoll", Tepoto is not a typical Tuamotu atoll, but a single separate island without lagoon...
.