Fangatau

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 5.9 km2. Its reef encloses its lagoon completely. Anchorage is difficult. Fangatau Atoll has 135 inhabitants (2017 census).[4] Teana is the main village.

Fangatau
NASA picture of Fangatau Atoll
Fangatau
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates15°49′12″S 140°53′14″W
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area22.2 km2 (8.6 sq mi)  (lagoon)
9.4 km2 (4 sq mi) (above water)
Length8 km (5 mi)
Width3.5 km (2.17 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
CommuneFangatau
Largest settlementTeana
Demographics
Population135[1] (2017)
Pop. density24/km2 (62/sq mi)
Fangatau
Commune
Location of Fangatau
Coordinates: 15°49′12″S 140°53′14″W
CountryFrance
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
SubdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
Area
1
14.3 km2 (5.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)
296
 • Density21/km2 (54/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−10:00
INSEE/Postal code
98717 /
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

The first recorded European to arrive at Fangatau was Russian 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.[5]

Administration

The commune of Fangatau consists of Fangatau Atoll, as well as the atoll and associated commune of Fakahina.[6] The seat of the commune is the village Teana.[6]

AtollMain
village		Population
2017[4]		Land area
(km²)[7]		Lagoon
(km²)		Coordinates
FangatauTeana1355.91115°49′S 140°52′W
FakahinaTarione1618.32015°59′S 140°08′W
Commune of FangatauTeana29614.331
AtollMain
village		Population
2007		Population
2012		Population
2017
FangatauTeana121145135
FakahinaTarione131155161
Commune of FangatauTeana252300296

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. Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017, Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française
  5. Emory, Kenneth P. (1940). "Tuamotuan concepts of creation". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 49 (193): 117. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  6. Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance
  7. "R1- Population sans doubles comptes, des subdivisions, communes et communes associées de Polynésie française, de 1971 à 1996". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
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