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Tuamotu Sandpiper
The Tuamotu sandpiper (''Prosobonia parvirostris'') is an endangered member of the large wader family Scolopacidae, that is endemic to the Tuamotu Islands in French Polynesia. It is sometimes placed in the monotypic genus ''Aechmorhynchus''. A native name, apparently in the Tuamotuan language, is ''kivi-kivi''. Description The 15.5–16.5 cm long Tuamotu sandpiper is a small, short-winged, mottled brown bird with more or less barred underparts. Its short sharp beak is more like that of an insectivorous passerine than a wader. There are two colour morphs which intergrade. Pale birds are medium brown above and white below, with light barring or spotting on the breast and whitish streaking on the head. The bold supercilium and the chin are also white. The rectrices are brown with white tips and white triangular markings on the outer webs. Dark phase birds replace medium with darker brown and white with light buff or tawny white. The flanks are brown, and the entire underparts a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Titian Peale
Titian Ramsay Peale (November 2, 1799 – March 13, 1885) was an American artist, naturalist, and explorer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a scientific illustrator whose paintings and drawings of wildlife are known for their beauty and accuracy. Peale was a member of several high-profile scientific expeditions. In 1819–1820, he and Thomas Say accompanied Stephen Harriman Long on an expedition to the Rocky Mountains. He was also a member of the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). Starting around 1855 Peale became an enthusiastic amateur photographer. Many of his photographs featured buildings and landscapes in and around Washington D.C. He joined a local club with other amateur photographers and participated in field trips, photo exchanges and contests. By the end of the Civil War, his interest in photography waned and he only occasionally took pictures. Biography Family and early life Peale was born in Philosophical Hall, Philadelphia, on Novembe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rangiroa
Rangiroa ( Tuamotuan for 'vast sky') or Te Kokōta ( Cook Islands Māori for 'the Hyades star cluster') is the largest atoll in the Tuamotus and one of the largest in the world (smaller than Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and Huvadhu in the Maldives). It is in French Polynesia and is part of the Palliser group. The nearest atoll is Tikehau, to the west. It is about northeast of Tahiti. Rangiroa is home to about 2,500 people on almost . The chief town is Avatoru, in the atoll's northwest. Geography and environment The atoll consists of about 415 motus, islets and sandbars comprising a total land area of about . There are approximately one hundred narrow passages (straits or passes), called ''hoa'', in the fringing reef. The atoll has a flattened elliptic shape, with in length and a width ranging from . The width of land reaches wide and its circumference totals up to . The lagoon has a maximum depth of and its surface is . It is so large that it has its own ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Disappointment Islands
The Disappointment Islands (french: Îles du Désappointement) are a subgroup of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. They are located towards the northeast, away from the main Tuamotu group. The Disappointment Islands are a small group of coral islands, which includes the island of Tepoto and the atoll of Napuka. Puka-Puka, to their southeast, is often included in this subgroup. These islands are arid, and are not especially conducive to human habitation. Demographics The Disappointment Islands are sparsely populated. The inhabitants are overwhelmingly native Polynesians. According to the 2002 census, the population of the islands is as follows: * Tepoto: 54 * Napuka: 257 * Puka-Puka: 197 Administration Administratively Tepoto Island belongs to the commune of Napuka, while Puka-Puka has its own commune. History The western Disappointment Islands, Tepoto and Napuka, were colonized by voyagers from the neighboring Tuamotus, but Puka-Puka was colonized ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Puka-Puka
Puka-Puka is a small coral atoll in the north-eastern Tuamotu Archipelago, sometimes included as a member of the Disappointment Islands. This atoll is quite isolated, the nearest land being Fakahina, 182 km to the southwest. Puka-Puka Atoll has an elliptical shape. Its length is 6 km and its maximum width 3.3 km. Its land area is about 5 km2. The lagoon is filled with silt and has become very small. The low coral islands are dry and sparsely populated. According to the 2017 census, the total population was 163.Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017 Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française The chief town is Te One Mahina, with about 110 inhabitants. Unlike the rest of the Tuamotus, the langua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raeffsky Islands
The Raeffsky Islands or Raevski Islands (french: Îles Raéffsky or ''Îles Raevski'') is a subgroup with just over 3000 people in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. They are located roughly in the central area of the main Tuamotu atoll cluster. (Latitude: 16° 45' 0 S, Longitude: 144° 13' 60 W.) Named after Nikolay Raevsky, a Russian general of the Napoleonic wars. Atolls The Raeffsky Islands include the following atolls: *Anaa *Faaite *Tahanea (uninhabited) *Motutunga (uninhabited) *Takume *Raroia *Taenga *Nihiru *Makemo *Katiu *Tuanake (uninhabited) *Hiti (uninhabited) * Tepoto (South), ''Tepoto Sud'' (uninhabited) *Marutea Nord (uninhabited) *Haraiki (uninhabited) *Aratika *Kauehi *Taiaro (private) *Raraka Administration *The commune of Anaa consists of 4 atolls: Anaa, Faaite, Tahanea and Motutunga. The total population is of 639 inhabitants according to the 2002 census. *The commune of Makemo consists of 11 atolls: Makemo, Takume, Raroia, Taenga, Nihiru, Kaitu, Tuana ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tepoto (South)
Tepoto Atoll (Tepoto Sud), or Ti Poto, is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located southwest of Makemo Atoll. Tepoto Atoll is almost round in shape. It measures in diameter. Its lovely turquoise-blue lagoon is connected to the ocean by a narrow channel in the north-east. This atoll is sometimes called Tepoto Sud in French, to distinguish it from the island of Tepoto, approximately to the northeast in the Disappointment Islands. The small group formed by Tepoto Sud, Hiti and Tuanake is also known as the "Raevski Atolls". The Tuamotu reed warbler and the Polynesian ground dove are found in this area. Tepoto Atoll is permanently uninhabited. According to articles in Ireland's Own and the Times Educational Supplement Website, the atoll is identified by Tony Crowley as being the site of buried treasure stolen during the 19th century by four adventurers from a church in Pisco, Peru. Over the years, people have searched for the treasure witho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hiti
Hiti, or Hiti-rau-mea, is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 19 km southwest of Makemo Atoll. Hiti Atoll is oval in shape. It measures 9 km in length with a maximum width of 6 km. There are some narrow islands on the northern side of its reef with a total land area of about 3 km2. The southern part of the reef is broader but has no islands. Hiti's lagoon is not connected to the ocean by a pass. The small group formed by Hiti, Tepoto Sud and Tuanake is also known as the "Raevski Atolls". The Tuamotu reed warbler and the Polynesian ground dove are found in this area. Hiti Atoll is permanently uninhabited. History The first recorded European to arrive to Hiti Atoll was Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820. Administration Hiti belongs to the commune of Makemo, which consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto Sud, Raroia, Takume, Taenga and Ni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tuanake
Tuanake or Mata-rua-puna is a small atoll located in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. He made up the Raevski Islands subgroup with Tepoto Sud and Hiti. It is administratively attached to the municipality of Makemo. Geography Tuanake is located west of Hiti, the nearest island, and 545 km east of Tahiti. It is a small semi-circular atoll in length and in maximum width for an emerged area of . Its lagoon is accessible by a very shallow pass located to the south. Tuanake has long been permanently uninhabited, but the 2017 census counts six inhabitants. History The first recorded European to sight Tuanake was Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen on July 15, 1820, who named it “Raevski Island”. During his expedition, the American navigator Charles Wilkes approached him on December 20, 1840, notified the name of "Tunaki" and named him Reid Island. In the nineteenth century, Tuanake became a French territory then populated by a few indigenous inhab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tahanea
Tahanea Atoll is an atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located to the east of Faaite Atoll. Tahanea Atoll measures in length with a maximum width of . The southern reef fringing the atoll is wider than the northern one, but the largest islands are on the narrower northern rim. Tahanea has a wide and deep lagoon with a surface of . There are three deep, navigable, passes into the lagoon, which are called Motupuapua, Teavatapu and Otao. Tahanea is uninhabited, but visited occasionally by islanders from neighboring atolls. History The first recorded European to sight Tahanea was Spanish navigator Domingo de Boenechea on 9 November 1774 on ship ''Aguila''. He named this atoll "San Julián".Brand, Donald D. ''The Pacific Basin: A History of its Geographical Explorations'' The American Geographical Society, New York, 1967, p.139. Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen visited Tahanea in 1820 on ships ''Vostok'' and ''Mirni''. He nam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Katiu
Katiu, or Taungataki, is an atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located west of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point. It measures in length with a maximum width of . Its total area, including the lagoon is and a land area of approximately . There are many narrow islands on the north-eastern side of its long reef with a total land area of about . Its lagoon is connected to the ocean. Katiu has a population of 250 inhabitants. The main occupations are fishing, copra harvesting and pearl farming. The most important village is called Toini; it is located on one of the long islands of the northeastern reef. History The first recorded European to arrive to Katiu was Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820 on the ships ''Vostok'' and ''Mirni''. He named this atoll "Osten-Saken" or "Saken". Administration Katiu belongs to the commune of Makemo, which consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raraka
Raraka, or Te Marie, is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It lies 17 km to the southeast of Kauehi Atoll. The shape of Raraka Atoll is an oval 27 km long and 19 km wide. Its fringing reef has many sandbanks and small motu (islets). This atoll has a wide lagoon with a navigable pass to the ocean. Raraka has 96 inhabitants (2017). There is only one village on Motutapu in the northwest. Raraka Atoll in the Tuamotus should not be confused with Raraka in Malaita, Solomon Islands . History The first recorded European to sight Raraka Atoll was Captain Ireland in 1831. Raraka Atoll was visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palliser Islands
The Palliser Islands or Pallisers are a subgroup of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. They are located in the very northwest of the main group of atolls. Atolls The group includes: * Apataki *Arutua *Fakarava * Kaukura *Mataiva *Rangiroa *Makatea *Tikehau *Toau Administration *Administratively, Apataki and Kaukura atolls belong to the commune of Arutua, with a total population of 1510 inhabitants. *Toau, Niau, and Fakarava, belong to the commune of Fakarava. The total population is of 1800 inhabitants. *The commune of Rangiroa consists of 3 atolls: Rangiroa itself, Tikehau and Mataiva, and a separate island (Makatea). The total population is of 3467 inhabitants. History The Palliser Islands were named "Palliser's Isles" by Captain James Cook, who was the first European to sight them, on 19 April and 20 April 1774; naming them as such in honour of Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Baronet (26 February 1723 – 19 March 1796) was a Royal Navy offi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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