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. It is located 68 km southeast of

Nengonengo Nengonengo is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 53 km southeast of Ravahere, its closest neighbor, and 100 km southwest of Hao Atoll. Nengonengo Atoll is roughly bell-shaped. It measures 13&nbs ...

, 52 km west of

Paraoa Paraoa, Tohora, or Hariri is a small atoll of the central Tuamotus, Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 76 km south of Hao (French Polynesia), Hao Atoll's westernmost point. The closest land is Manuhangi Atoll, 52 km t ...

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 Austra ...

. ''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 Tuamotuan, Paumotu or Paumotu (Tuamotuan: ' or ') is a Polynesian language spoken by 4,000 people in the Tuamotu archipelago, with an additional 2,000 speakers in Tahiti. The Tuamotu people today refer to their land as Tuamotu, while referring ...

(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 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 Hao (main village: Otepa), which includes

Ahunui Ahunui or Nga-taumanga is a small atoll of the eastern Tuamotus, Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 55 km SSE of Paraoa Atoll and 120 km WSW of Vairaatea. Ahunui Atoll is roughly circular in shape and measures 6.5&n ...

(uninhabited),

, Manuhangi (no permanent inhabitant) and

(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.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 ...

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 {{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub