Fakahina

Fakahina, or Kaīna,[2] is a small atoll in the north of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Fangatau Atoll, located 72 km to the north-west. Fakahina's length is 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) and its maximum width 6.3 kilometres (3.9 miles). It has a land area of 11.55 square kilometres (4 square miles) and a lagoon area of 20 square kilometres (8 square miles). There is no pass connecting the lagoon with the ocean.

Fakahina
NASA picture of Fakahina Atoll
Fakahina
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates15°59′S 140°11′W
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area20 km2 (7.7 sq mi)  (lagoon)
11.55 km2 (4 sq mi) (above water)
Length9 km (5.6 mi)
Width6.3 km (3.91 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
CommuneFangatau
Largest settlementTarione
Demographics
Population155[1] (2012)
Pop. density19/km2 (49/sq mi)
Another NASA picture of Fakahina.

Fakahina has 155 inhabitants. The main village is Tarione.

History

The ancient Ma'ohi people used this atoll as a site for sacrifices. The first recorded European to arrive to Fakahina Atoll was Otto von Kotzebue, sailing in the service of the Russian tsars, in 1824. This atoll appears as "Predpriati" in some maps.

Part of the population of Fakahina was moved to Puka-Puka to work in the production of copra.

Administration

Fakahina belongs to the commune of Fangatau, which consists of Fangatau Atoll, as well as the atoll and associated commune of Fakahina.

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.


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