Nukutavake
Encyclopedia
Nukutavake or Nukutuvake is an island
in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia
. It lies 1,125 km from Tahiti
. The closest land is small Pinaki Atoll, located 15 km to the southeast. Vairaatea
Atoll lies 38 km to the west of Nukutavake.
Nukutavake's length is 5 km and its width between 1.3 and 0.45 km. Nukutuvake is not a typical Tuamotu atoll, but a single island. It was formed when its lagoon filled up with silt, in a similar manner as Fua Mulaku in the Maldives
, which has a similar size and shape. There are shallow remains of the lagoon filled with marshy vegetation. The higher ground has many coconut
palms.
Nukutavake has 139 inhabitants; Tavananui is the largest town. Many islanders have left the island in recent years, mainly to Tahiti, in search for work. There are a number of abandoned houses on the island. The people who remain live primarily on fish
and copra
production.
There is a cyclone shelter on Nukutavake
in 1767. He named it "Queen Charlotte Island" (Reine Charlotte). Wallis observed that the island was inhabited and well-stocked with coconut trees.
But Captain Frederick Beechey, who visited Nukutavake in 1826, found it with no population and without the trees. It is likely that the early inhabitants experienced a ``mini-apocolypse```, and came to a horrific end.
, Amanu
, Fangatau
, Hao
and Nukutavake.
The commune of Nukutavake includes four other islands apart from Nukutavake itself:
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
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...
. It lies 1,125 km from 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...
. The closest land is small Pinaki Atoll, located 15 km to the southeast. Vairaatea
Vairaatea
Vairaatea is a small atoll of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Vairaatea Atoll is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake. Nukutavake, the closest land, lies 38 km to the east.Vairaatea Atoll measures...
Atoll lies 38 km to the west of Nukutavake.
Nukutavake's length is 5 km and its width between 1.3 and 0.45 km. Nukutuvake is not a typical Tuamotu atoll, but a single island. It was formed when its lagoon filled up with silt, in a similar manner as Fua Mulaku in the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
, which has a similar size and shape. There are shallow remains of the lagoon filled with marshy vegetation. The higher ground has many coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
palms.
Nukutavake has 139 inhabitants; Tavananui is the largest town. Many islanders have left the island in recent years, mainly to Tahiti, in search for work. There are a number of abandoned houses on the island. The people who remain live primarily on fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
and copra
Copra
Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. Coconut oil extracted from it has made copra an important agricultural commodity for many coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock.-Production:...
production.
There is a cyclone shelter on Nukutavake
History
The first recorded European who arrived to Nukutavake was Englishman Samuel WallisSamuel Wallis
Samuel Wallis was a Cornish navigator who circumnavigated the world.Wallis was born near Camelford, Cornwall. In 1766 he was given the command of HMS Dolphin to circumnavigate the world, accompanied by the Swallow under the command of Philip Carteret...
in 1767. He named it "Queen Charlotte Island" (Reine Charlotte). Wallis observed that the island was inhabited and well-stocked with coconut trees.
But Captain Frederick Beechey, who visited Nukutavake in 1826, found it with no population and without the trees. It is likely that the early inhabitants experienced a ``mini-apocolypse```, and came to a horrific end.
Administration
Geographically this island is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes AhunuiAhunui
Ahunui or Nga-taumanga is a small atoll of the eastern Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 55 km SSE of Paraoa Atoll and 120 km WSW of Vairaatea....
, Amanu
Amanu
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...
, 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....
, Hao
Hao
Hao or HAO may refer to:* Hào, a form of Chinese pseudonym* Hao , a Chinese surname* Hao * Hao , Hao or HAO may refer to:* Hào, a form of Chinese pseudonym* Hao (Chinese surname) (郝), a Chinese surname* Hao (French Polynesia)* Hao (city), Hao or HAO may refer to:* Hào, a form of Chinese pseudonym*...
and Nukutavake.
The commune of Nukutavake includes four other islands apart from Nukutavake itself:
| Island | Population (2002 census) | Area (km²) | Area of lagoon (km²) | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nukutavake | 139 | 5.5 | 0 | 98773 |
| Vahitahi Vahitahi Vahitahi, or Vaitake, is an atoll in the eastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Vahitahi's nearest neighbor is Akiaki, which is located 41 km to the northwest.... |
103 | 2.5 | 7.4 | 98788 |
| Vairaatea Vairaatea Vairaatea is a small atoll of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Vairaatea Atoll is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake. Nukutavake, the closest land, lies 38 km to the east.Vairaatea Atoll measures... |
36 | 3 | 13 | 98791 |
| Pinaki | 0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | - |
| Akiaki Akiaki Akiaki is a low coral atoll in the eastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Akiaki's nearest neighbor is Vahitahi, which is located 41 km to the southeast.... |
0 | 1.2 | 0 | - |
| TOTAL | 334 | 13 | - | - |