Takapoto

Takapoto
NASA picture of Takapoto Atoll
Takapoto is located in French Polynesia
Takapoto
Takapoto
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates14°37′39″S 145°12′18″W / 14.62750°S 145.20500°W / -14.62750; -145.20500
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area85 km2 (33 sq mi) (lagoon)
15 km2 (6 sq mi) (above water)
Length20 km (12 mi)
Width6.7 km (4.16 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionTuamotus
CommuneTakaroa
Largest settlementFakatopatere
Demographics
Population380[1] (2012)

Takapoto, Tua-poto or Oura, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It has a length of 20 kilometres (12 miles) and a width of 6.7 kilometres (4.2 miles).

The nearest land is Takaroa Atoll, located 10 kilometres (6 miles) to the northeast.

Takapoto's lagoon has a high salinity and a strong phytoplankton biomass.

Geographically Takapoto is part of the King George Islands (Iles du Roi Georges) subgroup, which includes: Ahe, Manihi, Takapoto, Takaroa and Tikei.

Takapoto Atoll has 380 inhabitants. Fakatopatere, the main village on Takapoto, is located at the southern end of the atoll.

History

The first recorded European to sight Takapoto Atoll was Jacob Le Maire in 1616.[2]

Takapoto Atoll was visited by the Charles Wilkes expedition in September 1839.

Takapoto Airport was inaugurated in 1973.

Administration

The commune of Takaroa-Takapoto consists of the atolls of Takaroa and Takapoto, and Tikei Island.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  2. ^ Sample Chapter(s) for Historical%2 Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine


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