Napuka

Napuka, or Pukaroa, is a small coral atoll in the Disappointment Islands, in the northeastern 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
NASA picture of Napuka Atoll
Napuka
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates14°10′12″S 141°13′52″W
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area18 km2 (6.9 sq mi)  (lagoon)
8 km2 (3 sq mi) (above water)
Length10.5 km (6.52 mi)
Width4 km (2.5 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
CommuneNapuka
Largest settlementTepukamaruia
Demographics
Population234[1] (2017)
Napuka
Commune
Location of Napuka
Coordinates: 14°10′12″S 141°13′52″W
CountryFrance
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
SubdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
Area
1
1 km2 (0.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
284
 • Density280/km2 (740/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−10:00
INSEE/Postal code
98730 /
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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 thirty islands on Napuka's reef is 8 km². The surface of the lagoon is 18 km².

Napuka has 234 inhabitants according to the 2017 census.[1] The main village is Tepukamaruia (Te Puka Maru Ia).

History

The first recorded European to reach Napuka Atoll was the British explorer John Byron, in 1765. He named Napuka and Tepoto "Disappointment Islands" because he found the natives to be of a hostile disposition toward him.

Napuka was visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedition, on 23 Aug. 1839.[2] This atoll was probably the one that Charles Wilkes called "Wytoohee" or "Wutoohee".

The airport on Napuka opened in 1977.

Administration

The commune of Napuka consists of the atolls of Napuka and Tepoto Nord.[3]

References
  1. Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017, Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française
  2. Stanton, William (1975). The Great United States Exploring Expedition. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 119. ISBN 0520025571.
  3. Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance



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