Takume
Encyclopedia
Takume or Pukamaru is an atoll
of the Tuamotus chain
in French Polynesia
, located 790 km (490.9 mi) northeast of Tahiti
and 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Raroia
and 128 km (79.5 mi) to the west of Fangatau
.
This elongated atoll measures 24 km (14.9 mi) by 5 km (3.1 mi). Its lagoon
has an area of 43.5 km² (16.8 sq mi).
Takume has many small motu
s on its reef; most are located on its eastern fringes. The long and deep lagoon has one navigable pass to enter it.
Takume Atoll has 93 inhabitants. The main village is Ohomo.
The first recorded European to arrive to Takume was Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
in 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Volonsky".
Takume Airport was inaugurated in 1996.
of Makemo
. The commune of Makemo consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki
, Marutea Nord
, Katiu
, Tuanake
, Hiti
, Tepoto Sud, Raroia
, Takume, Taenga
and Nihiru
.
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...
of the Tuamotus chain
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...
, located 790 km (490.9 mi) northeast of 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...
and 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Raroia
Raroia
Raroia, or Raro-nuku, is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 740 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km southwest of Takume. Administratively it is a part of the commune of Makemo....
and 128 km (79.5 mi) to the west of 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....
.
This elongated atoll measures 24 km (14.9 mi) by 5 km (3.1 mi). Its lagoon
Lagoon
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,...
has an area of 43.5 km² (16.8 sq mi).
Takume has many small motu
Motu
Motu may refer to:*Motu language, a language of Papua New Guinea*Motu proprio, a type of Papal document*MOTU, also known as "Mark of the Unicorn", a maker of professional audio hardware and software...
s on its reef; most are located on its eastern fringes. The long and deep lagoon has one navigable pass to enter it.
Takume Atoll has 93 inhabitants. The main village is Ohomo.
History
Takume and Raroia were called Napaite, "the Twins" (ite, two), by the ancient Paumotu people.The first recorded European to arrive to Takume was Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen was an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, cartographer and explorer, who ultimately rose to the rank of Admiral...
in 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Volonsky".
Takume Airport was inaugurated in 1996.
Administration
Administratively Takume is a part 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 Makemo
Makemo
Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua, is one of the larger of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia.Makemo Atoll measures 70 km in length with an average width of 5–8 km. It is the fourth largest atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in terms of lagoon surface, with a lagoon of over 600 km²...
. The commune of Makemo consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki
Haraiki
Haraiki is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 42 km southwest of Marutea Nord.Haraiki Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 7 km in length with a maximum width of 5 km. There are three islets on its reef with a total land area of...
, Marutea Nord
Marutea Nord
Marutea, or Taunga tauranga-e-havana, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 24 km to the southeast of Makemo Atoll and 30 km southwest of Nihiru Atoll....
, Katiu
Katiu
Katiu, or Taungataki, is an atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 23.5 km west of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point....
, Tuanake
Tuanake
Tuanake or Mata-rua-puna is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 24 km southwest of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point....
, Hiti
Hiti
Hiti, or Hiti-rau-mea, is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 19 km southwest of Makemo Atoll....
, Tepoto Sud, Raroia
Raroia
Raroia, or Raro-nuku, is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 740 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km southwest of Takume. Administratively it is a part of the commune of Makemo....
, Takume, Taenga
Taenga
Taenga, or Taunga-hara, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 32 km to the northeast of Makemo Atoll and 27 km to the northwest of Nihiru Atoll....
and Nihiru
Nihiru
Nihiru, or Nikia, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is a relatively small atoll located 49 km to the east of Makemo Atoll and 30 km northeast of Marutea Atoll....
.