Fakahina, or Kaīna, is a small

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 north 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 ...

group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is

Fangatau Fangatau, or Nakai-erua, 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 , maximum width . It has a total area ...

Atoll, located 72 km to the north-west. Fakahina's length is and its maximum width . It has a land area of and a lagoon area of . There is no pass connecting the lagoon with the ocean. Fakahina has 155 inhabitants. The main village is Tarione.

History

The first recorded European to arrive to Fakahina Atoll was

Otto von Kotzebue Otto von Kotzebue (russian: О́тто Евста́фьевич Коцебу́, tr. ; – ) was a Russian officer and navigator in the Imperial Russian Navy. He was born in Reval. He was known for his explorations of Oceania. Early life ...

, sailing in the service of the Russian tsars, in 1824. This atoll appears as "Predpriati" in some maps. At the beginning of the 20th century part of the population of Fakahina was moved to

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 Ato ...

to work in the production of

copra Copra (from ) is the dried, white flesh of the coconut from which coconut oil is extracted. Traditionally, the coconuts are sun-dried, especially for export, before the oil, also known as copra oil, is pressed out. The oil extracted from co ...

Administration

Fakahina belongs to the

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

of Fangatau, which consists of Fangatau Atoll, as well as the atoll and associated commune of Fakahina.

References

OceandotsMa'ohi people

External links

Atolls of the Tuamotus {{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub