Manuhangi (also known as Te Fara
) is an atoll of the
Tuamotu Archipelago
The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (french: Îles Tuamotu, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extendin ...
in
French Polynesia
)Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze")
, anthem =
, song_type = Regional anthem
, song = "Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui"
, image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of French ...
. It is located 68 km southeast of
Nengonengo, 52 km west of
Paraoa and 845 km east of
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Aust ...
.
[ ''Oceandots.com'']
Manuhangi Atoll is small in size,
[ with a length of 5.4 km and a maximum width of 3.6 km. It has an oval shape and a coral reef completely enclosing a small lagoon. Manuhangi has a hook-shaped island covering the east and northeast of its reef.
]
History
The old Paumotu (Tuamotu's inhabitants) called this small atoll "manu hagi" (meaning "the loving bird").[Manuhangi Atoll]
''Privateislandsonline.com'' The atoll has been uninhabited for many years.[
The first recorded European who arrived to Manuhangi was English navigator ]Samuel Wallis
Samuel Wallis (23 April 1728 – 21 January 1795 in London) was a British naval officer and explorer of the Pacific Ocean. He made the first recorded visit by a European navigator to Tahiti.
Biography
Wallis was born at Fenteroon Farm, n ...
in 1767.[ He named it "Cumberland".
]
Administration
Administratively Manuhangi belongs to the commune of Hao (main village: Otepa), which includes Ahunui (uninhabited), Nengonengo, Manuhangi (no permanent inhabitant) and Paraoa (uninhabited).
Flora and fauna
Manuhangi is a protected area and various species of birds are found in the atoll.[ Part of the land is planted with ]coconut palms
The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or ...
.[Manuhangi Atoll]
''Pavilionsofsplendourinternational.com'' Apart from the birds, the fauna of the island primarily consists of coconut crab
The coconut crab (''Birgus latro'') is a species of terrestrial hermit crab, also known as the robber crab or palm thief. It is the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world, with a weight of up to . It can grow to up to in width from the tip ...
s.[
]
Economy and infrastructure
Tahitian black pearls are collected and cultivated in the surrounding islands.[ The island has some houses with permanent structures, cisterns, and water supply from natural wells.][ Manuhangi has no permanent inhabitant.]
References
Atolls of the Tuamotus
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