Marutea, or Taunga tauranga-e-havana, is one of the

Tuamotu 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 ...

atolls 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 Frenc ...

. It is located 24 km to the southeast of

Makemo Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia. History Makemo is the home of legendary Polynesian hero Moeava. The first recorded European to arrive to Makemo Atoll was English pearl merchant Jo ...

Atoll and 30 km southwest of

Nihiru Nihiru, or Nikia, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is a relatively small atoll located 49 km to the east of Makemo Atoll and 30 km northeast of Marutea Atoll. Nihiru Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measu ...

Atoll. Marutea Atoll measures 42 km in length with a maximum width of 17 km. Its lagoon has an area of 458 km² and one pass to enter it. It has a land area of approx 2.7 km². This atoll is very low and its reef is often awash. Marutea Atoll is permanently uninhabited. Marutea Nord should not be confused with

Marutea Sud Marutea Atoll (Marutea Sud), also known as Lord Hood Island, Marutea-i-runga, and Nuku-nui, is an atoll in the far southeast of the Tuamotu group of French Polynesia. It lies in the east-northeast part of the Gambier (commune), about 72 km ...

located in the far south-eastern reaches of the Tuamotu Archipelago at 21˚ 30'S., 135˚ 32'W.

History

Taunga-tauranga-e-havana, the second native name of Marutea, means "the friendly bird that rested and plumed itself on our mast" —so says Marerenui, a native of

Faaite Faaite, or Faaiti is an atoll of the Tuamotus in French Polynesia. It is located to the north of Anaa Atoll. The total surface of the atoll is Its dry land area is . Its length is and its width . The total population is 401 inhabitants. ...

Atoll. There is a legend attached to this name, of which only fragments can be obtained.Journal of the Polynesian Society: Names Of The Paumotu Islands, By J.L. Young, P 264-268
/ref> The first recorded European to arrive to Marutea Atoll was Captain

James Cook James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean an ...

in 1773. Historically Marutea has appeared as "Furneaux Island" in some maps.

Administration

Marutea Nord belongs to the commune of Makemo, which consists of the atolls of

Haraiki Haraiki is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 42 km southwest of Marutea Nord. Haraiki Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 7 km in length with a maximum width of 5 km. There ...

, Marutea Nord,

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 ...

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 Tuanak ...

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 ar ...

Tepoto Sud 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 ...

Raroia Raroia, or Raro-nuku, is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 740 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km southwest of Takume. Administratively it is a part of the commune of Makemo. The oval-shaped atoll measures 43 ...

Takume Takume or Pukamaru is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 790 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km northeast of Raroia and to the west of Fangatau. This elongated atoll measures . Its lagoon has an area of Taku ...

Taenga Taenga, or Taunga-hara, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 32 km to the northeast of Makemo Atoll and 27 km to the northwest of Nihiru Atoll. Taenga Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 27&n ...

and

References

OceandotsSharks in Marutea

External links

{{Tuamotus Atolls of the Tuamotus