Napuka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Napuka
Napuka2.jpg
NASA picture of Napuka Atoll
Napuka is located in French Polynesia
Napuka
Napuka
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates14°10′12″S 141°13′52″W / 14.17000°S 141.23111°W / -14.17000; -141.23111
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 settlement
Demographics
Population234[1] (2017)
Napuka
Commune
NapukaISS002-E-6371.PNG
Localización de las islas de la Decepción en las Tuamotu.png
Location of Napuka
Coordinates: 14°10′12″S 141°13′52″W / 14.17011°S 141.23106°W / -14.17011; -141.23106Coordinates: 14°10′12″S 141°13′52″W / 14.17011°S 141.23106°W / -14.17011; -141.23106
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, 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 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. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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

External links[]



Stub icon

This French Polynesia-related geography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""