Fangatau

Fangatau

NASA picture of Fangatau Atoll
Fangatau
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Coordinates 15°49′12″S 140°53′14″W / 15.82000°S 140.88722°W / -15.82000; -140.88722
Archipelago Tuamotus
Area 22.2 km2 (8.6 sq mi)  (lagoon)
6 km2 (2 sq mi) (above water)
Length 8 km (5 mi)
Width 3.5 km (2.17 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision Tuamotus
Commune Fangatau
Largest settlement Teana
Demographics
Population 145[1] (2012)
Pop. density 24 /km2 (62 /sq mi)
Fangatau
Coordinates: 15°49′12″S 140°53′14″W / 15.8199°S 140.8871°W / -15.8199; -140.8871Coordinates: 15°49′12″S 140°53′14″W / 15.8199°S 140.8871°W / -15.8199; -140.8871
Country France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Area 14.25 km2 (5.50 sq mi)
Population (2012)1 300
 • Density 21/km2 (55/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 98717 / 
1 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Fangatau, or Nakai-erua,[2] is a small atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Fakahina Atoll, located 72 km to the ESE. This small atoll has an elongated shape. Its length is 8 kilometres (5.0 miles), maximum width 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles). It has a total area of 22.2 square kilometres (8.6 square miles).[3] (land area 6 km2). Its reef encloses its lagoon completely. Anchorage is difficult. Fangatau Atoll has 145 inhabitants. Teana is the main village.

History

The first recorded European to arrive to Fangatau was Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen on the 10 July 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Arakcheev".

Fangatau was the home of Kamake an Iturangi, regarded by anthropologist Kenneth Emory as "the greatest Tuamotuan sage" he ever met.[4]

There is a territorial (domestic) airfield in Fangatau which was inaugurated in 1978.

Administration

The commune of Fangatau consists of Fangatau Atoll, as well as the atoll and associated commune of Fakahina.

Atoll Main
village 		Population
2012 		Above
water
(km²) 		Lagoon
(km²) 		Coordinates
Fangatau Teana 145 6 11 15°49′S 140°52′W / 15.817°S 140.867°W / -15.817; -140.867
Fakahina1 Tarione 155 8 20 15°59′S 140°08′W / 15.983°S 140.133°W / -15.983; -140.133
Commune of Fangatau Teana 300 14.25 31

1 Commune associée

Atoll Main
village 		Population
2007 		Population
2012
Fangatau Teana 121 145
Fakahina Tarione 131 155
Commune of Fangatau Teana 252 300

Transport

The atoll is served by the Fangatau Airport (IATA: FGU, ICAO: NTGB).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Young, J.L. (1899). "Names of the Paumotu Islands, with the old names so far as they are known.". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 8 (4): 264–268. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  3. ↑ ICES Journal of Marine Science
  4. ↑ Emory, Kenneth P. (1940). "Tuamotuan concepts of creation". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 49 (193): 117. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
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