Takapoto, Tua-poto or Oura, 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. It has a length of and a width of .
The nearest land is
Takaroa
Takaroa, Taka-roa or Takapua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It has a length of and a width of ; its land area is .
The nearest land is Takapoto Atoll, located to the southwest.
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Atoll, located to the northeast.
Takapoto's lagoon has a high salinity and a strong
phytoplankton biomass.
Geographically Takapoto is part of the
King George Islands
The King George Islands (''Îles du Roi Georges'') is a subgroup of the Tuamotus Archipelago group in French Polynesia.
The King George Islands include four atolls and one island:
* Ahe
* Manihi
* Takapoto
* Takaroa
* Tikei Island
Tikei ...
(Iles du Roi Georges) subgroup, which includes:
Ahe,
Manihi
Manihi, or Paeua, is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, part of French Polynesia. It is one of the northernmost of the Tuamotus, located in the King George subgroup. The closest land to Manihi is Ahe Atoll, located 14 km to the west. ...
, Takapoto,
Takaroa
Takaroa, Taka-roa or Takapua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It has a length of and a width of ; its land area is .
The nearest land is Takapoto Atoll, located to the southwest.
Fine pearls, including black pearls, ...
and
Tikei
Tikei, also known as Manu, Tikai and Tiku is an island in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Tikei is not a typical Tuamotu atoll, but a separate island. The island is long, wide, and has a land area of . Its highest elevation is above s ...
.
Takapoto Atoll has 380 inhabitants. Fakatopatere, the main village on Takapoto, is located at the southern end of the atoll.
History
The first recorded European to sight Takapoto Atoll was
Jacob Le Maire
Jacob Le Maire (c. 1585 – 22 December 1616) was a Dutch mariner who circumnavigated the earth in 1615 and 1616. The strait between Tierra del Fuego and Isla de los Estados was named the Le Maire Strait in his honour, though not without controver ...
in 1616.
Sample Chapter(s) for Historical%2
Takapoto 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 in September 1839.
Takapoto Airport was inaugurated in 1973.
Administration
The commune of Takaroa-Takapoto consists of the atolls of Takaroa
Takaroa, Taka-roa or Takapua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It has a length of and a width of ; its land area is .
The nearest land is Takapoto Atoll, located to the southwest.
Fine pearls, including black pearls, ...
and Takapoto, and Tikei
Tikei, also known as Manu, Tikai and Tiku is an island in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Tikei is not a typical Tuamotu atoll, but a separate island. The island is long, wide, and has a land area of . Its highest elevation is above s ...
Island.
See also
*Takapoto Airport
Takapoto Airport is an airport on Takapoto 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 gl ...
References
Takapoto AirportFakatopatere villageNames
External links
Atolls of the Tuamotus
{{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub