Aratika is an

atoll An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical oceans and seas where corals can gr ...

in 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 ...

group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is

Kauehi Atoll Kauehi, or Putake, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Raraka Atoll, located 17 km to the Southeast. Kauehi has a wide lagoon measuring 24 km by 18 km. The atoll has a lagoon area of , and a ...

, located 35 km to the south east. Aratika has an unusual butterfly shape. Its length is and its maximum width . It has a land area of approximately . The lagoon is wide and deep, and can be entered by two navigable passes. Aratika had 160 inhabitants in 2012. The main village is called

Paparara Paparara is a village on Aratika Aratika is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Kauehi Atoll, located 35 km to the south east. Aratika has an unusual butterfly shape. Its length is and its maximum wid ...

History

Aratika appears in some maps as "Carlshoff Island.” This atoll was visited by the

Charles Wilkes Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he commanded ' during the ...

expedition on September 3, 1839. Prior to the pearl market slump at the turn of the century, Aratika was home to about 2000 people, thereafter dropping to about 200. Aratika has a private airfield which opened in 1998 and is owned by the Fourcade company. Much of the island's main infrastructure, including the school and many businesses from Paparara village, were moved for ease of access to and from the airstrip. The population has been slowly declining. It is cut in half when the children go to school at the age of 11, as there is only a primary school on the island which has one class for 3-11 year olds.

Administration

Aratika Atoll belongs to the commune of

Fakarava Fakarava, Havaiki-te-araro, Havai'i or Farea is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It is the second largest of the Tuamotu atolls. The nearest land is Toau, a coral atoll which lies to the northwest. The atoll is ro ...

, which consists of Fakarava, as well as the atolls of Aratika,

Kauehi Kauehi, or Putake, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Raraka Atoll, located 17 km to the Southeast. Kauehi has a wide lagoon measuring 24 km by 18 km. The atoll has a lagoon area of , and a ...

Niau Niau is a small atoll in French Polynesia, in the commune of Fakarava (Tuamotu archipelago). This atoll has a broad fringing reef, a diameter of 8 km and an area of 53 km2. Niau's lagoon is swampy, hypersaline and entirely enclosed. ...

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 sand ...

Taiaro Taiaro, or Maro-taua, is a small atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It is one of the smallest of the Tuamotu atolls. Taiaro lies 42 km to the northeast of Raraka Atoll. The shape of Taiaro Atoll is roughly a polyg ...

and

Toau Toau, Pakuria, or Taha-a-titi is a coral atoll in French Polynesia, one of the Palliser Islands (Îles Pallisier). Toau has a wide lagoon; length , width . The nearest land is Fakarava Atoll, located to the southeast. Toau Atoll had a pop ...

Images & Maps

References

Pictures

Aratika-Nord Airport

External links

Aratika Atoll FP (EVS Islands)

Shuttle Image ISS005-E-13941 (Astronaut Photography)
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Atolls of the Tuamotus {{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub