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Temoe (Gambier Islands)
Encyclopedia
Temoe, or Te Moe, is a small atoll
of the Gambier Islands
in French Polynesia
. It is located in the far southeast of the Tuamotu group archipelago. It lies about 37 km southeast from the Gambier Islands and more than 1700 km southeast from Mataiva
, at the other end of the Tuamotu archipelago.
Temoe Atoll is trapezoidal in shape and bound by a continuous reef with many small shallow spillways. It is 8 km long and has a maximum width of 4 km. The lagoon
has a maximum depth of 23 m. Its islands are low and flat and the lagoon has no navigable pass to enter it.
Temoe is permanently uninhabited. Administratively it belongs to the commune of the Gambier Islands
.
25 km southwest of Temoe Atoll lies Portland Reef
, a submerged shoal lying at a depth of about 10 m.
).
It is said that buccaneer Edward Davis might have arrived at Temoe and Mangareva
in 1686. But there is no historical proof of this fact.
The first recorded European to effectively arrive at Temoe was British mariner James Wilson
on ship Duff in 1797. Captain Wilson named this atoll "Crescent Island".
In 1838 Christian missionaries moved all the inhabitants of Temoe to Mangareva to help in construction work.
There is an account of fact mixed with fantasy about "Crescent Island". The author is Mr. William (Bill) Turner from Cypress, Texas
.
Turner has even minted Crescent Island currecy, known as "Poa".
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 Gambier Islands
Gambier Islands
There was a time when the Gambiers hosted a population of several thousand people and traded with other island groups including the Marquesas, the Society Islands and Pitcairn Islands...
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 in the far southeast of the Tuamotu group archipelago. It lies about 37 km southeast from the Gambier Islands and more than 1700 km southeast from Mataiva
Mataiva
Mataiva or Tepoetiriura is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago. It is located in the Palliser group, and is the westernmost of the Tuamotus. The nearest atoll, Tikehau, is located 35 km to the east...
, at the other end of the Tuamotu archipelago.
Temoe Atoll is trapezoidal in shape and bound by a continuous reef with many small shallow spillways. It is 8 km long and has a maximum width of 4 km. The 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 a maximum depth of 23 m. Its islands are low and flat and the lagoon has no navigable pass to enter it.
Temoe is permanently uninhabited. Administratively it belongs to the commune of the Gambier Islands
Gambier Islands
There was a time when the Gambiers hosted a population of several thousand people and traded with other island groups including the Marquesas, the Society Islands and Pitcairn Islands...
.
25 km southwest of Temoe Atoll lies Portland Reef
Portland Reef
The Portland Reef is a submerged shoal not rising above the surface in the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the far southeast of the Tuamotu group archipelago, about 68 km southeast from the Gambier Islands, and 30 km SSE from Temoe Atoll, below the Tropic of...
, a submerged shoal lying at a depth of about 10 m.
History
Temoe was formerly inhabited. There are ancient Polynesian archaeological remains on this lonely atoll; foremost among these are temple structures (maraeMarae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
).
It is said that buccaneer Edward Davis might have arrived at Temoe and Mangareva
Mangareva
Mangareva is the central and most important island of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. It is surrounded by smaller islands: Taravai in the southwest, Aukena and Akamaru in the southeast, and islands in the north...
in 1686. But there is no historical proof of this fact.
The first recorded European to effectively arrive at Temoe was British mariner James Wilson
James Wilson (Captain)
Captain James Wilson , brought the first British missionaries to Tahiti on ship Duff in 1797.Wilson was a deeply religious man. The missionaries he brought were from the London Missionary Society...
on ship Duff in 1797. Captain Wilson named this atoll "Crescent Island".
In 1838 Christian missionaries moved all the inhabitants of Temoe to Mangareva to help in construction work.
There is an account of fact mixed with fantasy about "Crescent Island". The author is Mr. William (Bill) Turner from Cypress, Texas
Cypress, Texas
Cypress is an unincorporated area of Harris County, Texas, United States located completely inside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston. The Cypress area is located along U.S...
.
Turner has even minted Crescent Island currecy, known as "Poa".